Event Conference
Tackling the Hidden Basel Plastic Wastes | BRS COPs 2023 Side Event
08 May 2023
18:15–19:45
Venue: CICG | Room 11-12 & Online | Webex
Organization: Basel Action Network, International Pollutants Elimination Network
This side event to the 2023 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions was organized by the Basel Action Network (BAN) and the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) with the support of the Geneva Environment Network.
About this Event
The International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), recently completed a study showing that current statistical data on plastic waste trade, is almost invariably counting only the Harmonized Tariff code 3915. However as much as twice the amount of plastic is not found in HS 3915 but in other Tariff codes, for example that are used for plastic textiles, rubber products, refuse derived fuels and plastic mixed into paper bales.
Likewise, the Basel Convention’s Plastic Amendments (2019) fail to cover the same plastic wastes in practice. Despite the fact that these plastics should at least qualify as the new Y48 Plastic listing from a scientific standpoint they are not being controlled by the Basel Convention’s new listings. It is expected that Basel therefore is failing to control perhaps around ½ of the plastics the Convention should logically be controlling. It is vital that Basel Parties consider plastics in paper, plastic and mixed textiles, RDF, rubber etc. be controlled for the very same reasons we controlled “plastic waste and scrap — their exports are causing serious harm to human health and the environment.
Speakers
Lee BELL
Mercury and POPs Policy Advisor, IPEN
Jim PUCKETT
Executive Director and Founder, Basel Action Network
K. OANH HA
Global Business Senior Reporter, Bloomberg News
Yuyun ISMAWATI
Co-founder and Senior Advisor, Nexus3 Foundation
Urska TRUNK
Campaign Manager, Changing Markets Foundation
Highlights
Video
Livestreamed from CICG
Photo Gallery
Documents
Presentations made during the event
Links
- BRS COPs | IPEN
- Towards the 2023 Meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
- Plastic Waste Trade: The Hidden Numbers | IPEN | March 2023
- IPEN Urges BRS COPs Delegates to Follow the Science, Ban Dangerous Chemicals Without Exemptions
- Quick views for the Conferences of the parties of the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions, 2023 | IPEN | April 2023