The Basel Convention

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is the most comprehensive global environmental agreement on hazardous and other wastes. It has 175 parties and aims to protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects resulting from the generation, management, transboundary movements and disposal of hazardous and other wastes.

The Convention came into force in 1992.

The Convention specifically aims to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries (LDCs). It also intends to minimize the amount and toxicity of waste generated, ensure their environmentally sound management, and assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate.

The Secretariat of the Basel Convention is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).