Fresh Basel Convention Rules to Curb Electronics Scrap Exports

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The recent proposals by the Basel Convention are likely to restrict exports of electronics scrap from the U.S. The issue is expected to become more complex as to how the proposed changes may impact exports out of the country, as the U.S. is not a party to the Convention.

Several countries have already called for increased restrictions on transboundary movement of discarded electronics. For instance, the governments of Switzerland and Ghana, in their proposals submitted to the Convention, had called for reclassification of certain types of end-of-life electronics and formulation of new rules to regulate their movement between countries. Recently, the EU had also called for expansion of scope of devices that falls under the ‘waste’ category.

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The proposals are to be discussed at the Basel Convention meeting scheduled to be held in July this year. Industry experts are of the opinion that the ratification of the proposed changes would turn out to be extremely punitive for U.S. exporters, which could even lead to sudden disruption within the industry. It must be noted that the Basel Convention rule specifies that party countries are prohibited from conducting trade of covered materials with non-party countries.