|
Overview
The term "e-waste" is loosely applied to consumer and business electronic equipment that is at the end of its useful life. Used products that are commonly thought of as e-waste include computers and computer-related equipment (including keyboard, monitors, printers, etc.), cell phones, televisions and radios.
As a result of the adopted amendments to the Basel Convention, starting January 1, 2025, international shipments of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) and scrap, for recovery (including recycling) or disposal, are allowed only with the prior written consent of the importing country and any transit countries (i.e., countries shipments may pass through before arrival in the importing country). This marks the first time that non-hazardous e-waste and scrap is controlled under the Basel Convention.
While the United States is not a party to the Basel Convention, 190 countries and the European Commission are Parties (i.e., have ratified the treaty) as of August 2024. The new Basel amendments will have significant impacts on U.S. exports and imports of e-waste and scrap because many U.S. trading partners will implement the Basel requirements. Basel Parties are also prohibited from trading Basel-controlled waste and scrap with countries that are not Parties (like the U.S.), absent a separate bilateral or multilateral agreement that meets certain Basel Convention criteria. The U.S. has one such agreement that addresses both exports and imports of hazardous and non-hazardous e-waste and scrap with member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; however, uncertainty remains about what requirements OECD countries will impose on such trade. It is likely that most OECD countries will apply prior informed consent requirements to trade in Basel-controlled e-waste and scrap with other OECD countries, including the U.S. Some OECD countries could consider certain Basel-controlled e-waste and scrap not to be subject to prior informed consent requirements.
The U.S. also has import-only agreements with Costa Rica, Malaysia, and the Philippines, which allow U.S. imports of hazardous waste, including hazardous e-waste.
More Resources
International Requirements for Electrical and Electronic Waste (US EPA). Overview of the Basel Convention Electrical and Electronic Waste Amendments.
|
