How to Regulate Our Waste-Full World

The document traces the history of hazardous waste regulation from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the 2019 entry into force of the Basel Convention's Ban Amendment. It highlights the risks of 'toxic colonialism,' where developed nations export hazardous materials to vulnerable regions. A significant focus is placed on the rapid growth of e-waste and the complexities of defining 'waste' versus 'recyclable products.' The author argues for a more proactive, equity-based approach to waste management to address emerging streams from the energy transition, such as lithium and cobalt.

• The Basel Convention's Ban Amendment, which entered into force in September 2019, prohibits developed countries from exporting hazardous wastes to developing countries to protect those lacking the capacity for safe management.
• Electronic waste (e-waste) is the fastest growing waste stream globally, with total weight increasing by an average of 2.5 million metric tons annually. By 2030, current volumes are projected to double.
• Global e-waste recycling rates are low; of the 53.6 million metric tonnes generated worldwide in 2019, only approximately 17.4% were collected and recycled.
• The 'recycling loophole' allows hazardous wastes to be mislabelled as 'safe' or intended for recycling to bypass regulations and be dumped in developing countries.
• Hazardous waste trade is increasingly complex, with significant 'South-South' transfers occurring between newly industrialized countries like India, China, and the Philippines, which are not affected by the Ban Amendment.
• Future waste management must proactively address new streams resulting from the energy transition, specifically the disposal of older wind turbines and the management of lithium and cobalt.

APA

Allan,, J. (2021). How to Regulate Our Waste-Full World. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/how-regulate-our-waste-full-world

Chicago

Allan,, Jennifer. How to Regulate Our Waste-Full World. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/how-regulate-our-waste-full-world.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Allan, |first1=Jennifer |title=How to Regulate Our Waste-Full World |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=26 July 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/how-regulate-our-waste-full-world |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{allan2021how, author = {Allan,, Jennifer}, title = {{How to Regulate Our Waste-Full World}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = jul, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/how-regulate-our-waste-full-world}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }