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15th September 2022 (7 Topics)

Dumping of e-waste by developed countries

Context

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson Justice Arun Kumar Mishra (retd.) expressed concern over the dumping of e-waste in developing countries by developed countries.

About

  • While addressing the annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum of national human rights institutions of countries in the region, he called for a stop to the practice in order "to universally ensure human rights for a healthy sustainable environment".
  • A multi-pronged strategy was needed to combat climate change in a time-bound manner by all countries.

E-Waste:

  • E-waste, or electronic waste, refers to all electronic equipment that’s been discarded by users with no intentions of reuse.
  • This includes everything from smaller items like lamps and phones to larger appliances like televisions, refrigerators and washing machines.

Basel Convention:

  • The Basel Convention came into force in 1992, intends to reduce trans-boundary movements of hazardous waste, including e-waste, from developed to less developed countries (LDCs), and ensure their safe disposal as closely as possible to the source of generation.
  • Secretariat location: Basel, Switzerland
  • Parties: 187 (Haiti and the United States have signed the Convention but not ratified it).
  • It does not address the movement of radioactive waste.
  • To implement and restrict the trade of hazardous waste between more developed countries and less developed countries an organization is formed which is known as Basel Action Network (BAN)
  • The United States is the only developed country that has not ratified this treaty, which means it does not have to abide by its rules and regulations.
  • The provisions of the Convention center around the following principal aims
    • The reduction of hazardous waste generation and the promotion of environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, wherever the place of disposal.
    • The restriction of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes except where it is perceived to be in accordance with the principles of environmentally sound management.
    • A regulatory system applying to cases where transboundary movements are permissible.

 

 

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