basel convention glossary of terms · 2. this glossary of terms is linked to the initiation under...

Basel ConventionGlossary of terms

© Secretariat of the Basel Convention, December 2017This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder i.e. SBC, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. SBC would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source.No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from SBC.

DISCLAIMER

The versions of the text contained in this booklet have not been formally edited and is for informative purposes only. It shall not supersede the official text of the decision as adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention. In case of error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, alteration of their contents, and any discrepancy between the documents included in the present booklet, on one hand, and the official text of the decision, on the other hand, the latter shall prevail.

The Secretariat of the Basel Convention (SBC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations (UN) do not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned, directly or indirectly, through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.

The designations employed and the presentation of the contents in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of SBC, UNEP or the UN, concerning the geo-political situations or the legal status of any country, territory, or city or area or their authorities, or concerning the delimitation of their frontiers or boundaries.

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Table of contents

Foreword .................................................................................................... 5

I. Introduction ........................................................................................... 7

II.Definitions ............................................................................................. 8

Wastes .................................................................................................................8

Non-waste ..........................................................................................................11

Hazardous wastes ..............................................................................................11

Hazardous characteristics ..................................................................................11

Non-hazardous waste ........................................................................................12

Disposal .............................................................................................................12

Final disposal .....................................................................................................13

Recovery ............................................................................................................13

Recycling ............................................................................................................15

Repair .................................................................................................................16

Refurbishment ....................................................................................................17

Reuse .................................................................................................................18

Direct reuse ........................................................................................................20

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The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their disposal was adopted on 22 March 1989 and entered into force on 5 May 1992. As of 15 October 2017, 185 States and the European Union were Parties to the Convention.

The Basel Convention establishes an internationally agreed legally binding mechanism to control transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes subject to the Convention with a view to ensuring their environmentally sound management.

This glossary of terms was developed by the Basel Convention Small Intersessional Working Group (SIWG) on legal clarity (http://www.basel.int/Implementation/LegalMatters/LegalClarity/Glossaryofterms/SmallIntersessionalWorkingGroup/tabid/3622/Default.aspx). It was adopted by the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (24 April - 5 May 2017) by decision BC-13/2 which provides, among other things, that it is a piece of guidance without prejudice to the review of Annexes I, III and IV and related aspects of Annex IX to the Convention or to legislation and guidance developed at the national level.

The Secretariat expresses its appreciation to all the members of the SIWG, the SIWG co-chairs Ms. Jimena Nieto (Colombia) and Mr. Simon Parker (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), as well as to Japan and Switzerland for their generous financial support to the work of the SIWG.

Parties and others are invited to use the glossary of terms with a view to submitting comments on it, if any, to the Secretariat of the Basel Convention.

For more information on the Basel Convention, visit http://www.basel.int, or contact the Secretariat at: [email protected]

Foreword

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Glossary of terms(5 May 2017)

I. Introduction

1. This glossarywasprepared in furtheranceof decisionsBC-11/1 andBC-12/1onthefollow-uptotheIndonesian-Swisscountry-ledinitiativetoimprovetheeffectivenessoftheBaselConventionandofdecisionsOEWG-9/8andOEWG-10/8onproviding further legalclarity. Itsgeneralpurposeistheclarificationofcertaintermsinorderto improvethe implementationoftheConventionandtheapplicationoftechnicalguidelinesandguidancedocuments developed under the Convention. Thismay also help Partiesidentifyfurtheropportunitiestoimproveimplementation,includingthroughtheissuanceoftechnicalguidance.ThisdocumentisprovidedasguidanceundertheBaselConvention.Suchguidance,exceptwhereitreflectslegallybindingConventionterms,iswithoutprejudicetolegislationandguidancedevelopedatthenationallevel.2. ThisglossaryoftermsislinkedtotheinitiationunderdecisionBC-12/1ofaprocessforthereviewofAnnexIVandrelatedaspectsofAnnexIXtotheBaselConvention.Thisprocessmayhaveimpactsonthedefinitionsandexplanatorynotesdevelopedinthisglossaryofterms.3. The Basel Convention applies to the transboundary movement ofhazardous wastes1 and other wastes.2 Thus, the term “wastes” is offundamentalimportanceindeterminingthescopeoftheConvention.4. Within the general purposementioned above, themain focusof thisglossary is to provide guidance for further legal clarity in relation to thedistinction between wastes and non-wastes. This distinction has been aparticularprobleminrelationtocross-bordertransportsofusedsubstancesorobjectsintendedforre-use.5. This glossary includes definitions of terms and further explanations,includinginordertoexplainhowcertaintermsrelatetoeachother.Fortheconvenienceofthereader,someexplanationsareincludedundermorethanoneheading.

1 Hazardouswastesaredefinedinarticle1paragraph1oftheBaselConvention,areelaboratedin Annexes VIII and IX of the Convention, and addressed in guidance developed underthe Convention (http://www.basel.int/TheConvention/Publications/TechnicalGuidelines/tabid/2362/Default.aspx).Mosthazardouswastesresultfromproductionprocesses.

2 Thisglossarydoesnotaddress“otherwaste”asdescribed inArticle1paragraph2andAnnexIItotheConvention.

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II. Definitions

Wastes(seeArticle2paragraph1oftheBaselConvention)Substancesorobjectswhicharedisposedoforareintendedtobedisposedoforarerequiredtobedisposedofbytheprovisionsofnationallaw.

Explanatory notes:

(a) Whendoesasubstanceorobjectbecomewaste?(i) The definition of “wastes” in theConvention gives threeways by

whichasubstanceorobjectistobeconsideredwasteandeachofthesemeritsfurtherexplanation:a. Substancesandobjectsthataredisposedof: ThedisposaloperationsarelistedinAnnexIVtotheConvention.

A substance or object undergoing one of these operations iswaste.Howeversomeoftheoperationsdescribeactivitiesthatmay also be applied to non-waste. For example, as regards“useasa fuel” referredto inoperationR1,bothwaste-suchaswasteoil,andnon-waste-suchascoal,canbeusedasafuelinacementkiln.3Thisshowsthatitisnotalwayspossibletodeterminewhethersomethingiswastebyconsideringsolelywhathappenstoit.Allthecircumstancesneedtobeconsidered.

b. Substancesandobjectsthatareintendedtobedisposedof:i. Asubstanceorobjectwillbewastefromthepointthatitis

intendedtobedisposedof.Thisisnecessarysothatwasteissubjecttocontrolbeforeitisactuallydisposedof.

ii. Intenttodisposecanbeinferredfromsurroundingfactsandcircumstances, including reasonably foreseeable results ofconduct. Intention is not only the subjective belief of theexporterorgeneratorofthewaste.Itisnecessarythereforetoalsoconsiderthecircumstancesinanobjectivemanner,e.g.theexistenceofacontracttodisposeofthesubstanceorobject.Thereforeintenttodisposecanbeinferredfromanactthatcouldreasonablybeexpectedtoresultindisposal.

3 See the Technical guidelines on the environmentally sound co-processing of hazardouswastes in cement kilns, adopted by decisionBC-10/8, available at: http://www.basel.int/Implementation/Publications/TechnicalGuidelines/tabid/2362/Default.aspx.

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iii. Whenassessingwhetherasubstanceorobjectisintendedtobedisposedof,all thecircumstancesneed tobe takeninto account on a case by case basis. The origin anddestination of the substance or object may be relevant.In addition, factors such as appearance, obsolescence,4 insufficient functionality and insufficient protection againstdamage during transport, loading and unloading may berelevant.Thesefactorsmaysuggestanintenttodisposeoftheobjectorsubstance,whichwouldmakeitawaste.

c. Substancesandobjectsthatarerequiredtobedisposedofbytheprovisionsofnationallaw:

This reflects the principle that substances or objectsmay bedefinedas“wastes”accordingtothenationallawofsome,butnotofotherstates.

(ii) A product is a substance or object intentionally produced by orresulting from a process that meets defined characteristics. Aproductmaybecomeawasteifthewastedefinitionapplies.

(iii) In some countries, production residues are considered wastebecause they are not intentionally produced. However, in othercountries,productionresiduesmaybenon-wasteormaybereferredtoasby-productsiftheymeetspecificconditionsinaccordancewithnationallegislationandiftheydonotmeetthewastedefinition.AstheManualontheimplementationoftheBaselConvention5notes,havingtheconditionssetdowninnationallaw,itispossiblethataproduction residuemaybe regardedasanon-waste inonestate,butasawasteinanother.

(iv) Agoodmaybeawasteifthewastedefinitionapplies.Agoodisasubstanceorobjectthathaseconomicvalueandwhichiscapable,assuch,offormingthesubjectofcommercialtransactions.“Good”isawidertermthan“product”.Ausedgoodisonethatisorhasbeenused,eitherby itsfirstorsubsequentowner.Ausedgoodmayormaynotbeawaste(seeexplanationunder(i)above).“Use”meanstheutilizationofagood,exceptinarecoveryoperation,whetherbyitsfirstorasubsequentowner.

4 Obsoletemeansnolongerproducedorused,oroutofdate(seewww.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/english/obsolete).

5 TheManualfortheimplementationoftheBaselConvention,adoptedbydecisionBC-12/7,is set out in the annex to document UNEP/CHW.12/9/Add.4/Rev.1, available at: http://www.basel.int/TheConvention/ConferenceoftheParties/Meetings/COP12/tabid/4248/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/8051/EventID/542/xmid/13027/Default.aspx.

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(b) Whendoeswasteceasetobewaste?Forsomerecoveryoperations,theremaybeaquestionofwhenwastemayceasetobewasteandreachesendofwastestatus.TheConventiondoesnotclarifywhenawasteceasestobewaste.Somecountrieshavesetstringentcriteriaintheirnationallegislationforwastetogainanend-of-wastestatusinordertoensurethatthereissufficientcertaintyofuseand that theproducts,materialsorsubstancesarenotsubjected toadisposaloperation.6

Possibilitiesforwastetoceasetobewasteinclude:(i) Ithasbeenpreparedforreuse: Ausedgoodmaymeetthewastedefinitioninsomecountries,e.g.

ifanownerintendstodisposeofausedgood.Reusinggoodsmaypromoteresourceefficiency.Forausedgoodthathasbecomewastethereneedstobesufficientcertaintythatitwillactuallybereused.Thismightbedonebyestablishingthatausedgoodworksproperlythroughchecking,repairingorcleaningit.AlthoughsuchoperationsarenotcurrentlylistedinAnnexIV,nationallegislationmayrecognisethemasrecoveryoperationsnecessarytoensurethatthewasteissuitableforreuse.

(ii) Ithasundergonearecyclingoperationandthatoperationiscompleted: Recycling operations involve the reprocessing of waste into

products,materials or substances, though not necessarily for theoriginalpurpose.Anexampleisusedlubricatingoilre-refinedwhichcould result in high grade oil which is valuable for its chemicalpropertiesandhencethatwouldbearecyclingoperation.Oncetheoperationiscomplete,thesubstanceorobjectisnolongerwaste.SomerecyclingoperationsarelistedinAnnexIVtotheConvention.

(iii) Ithasotherwisegainedend-of-wastestatusasaresultofarecoveryoperation:

In some countries, the result of certain recovery operations maybe products, materials or substances that do not require furtherrecovery operations to enable them to be used and are thereforeno longerwaste. An examplemight bewaste catalysts that haveundergoneoperationR8.

6 As anexample, theEUhasadopted three specific regulationsestablishingend-of-wastecriteriaforprioritywastestreams.Sofar,thecriteriahavebeenlaiddownfor:iron,steelandaluminiumscrap(CouncilRegulation(EU)No333/2011),glass cullet (CommissionRegulation(EU)N°1179/2012), andcopper scrap (CommissionRegulation (EU)N°715/2013).See:http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/framework/end_of_waste.htm.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32011R0333

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32012R1179



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(c) Economicvalueofwastes:Wastesdestinedforrecoveryoperationsmighthaveeconomicvalueandarecapable,assuch,offormingthesubjectofcommercialtransactions.Economic value by itself is not an appropriate criterion to distinguishwastefromnon-waste.Wastecanbesubstancesorobjectswhichmayormaynothaveapositiveeconomicvalue. Ifasubstanceorobject’svalue issignificantly lower than thatofneworusedgoods, thismightgiveanindicationthatitiswaste.Ifasubstanceorobjecthasnovalue,thismightgiveanindicationthatitsownerwantstogetridofitandthatitisthereforewaste.

Non-waste Asubstanceorobjectthatdoesnotmeetthedefinitionof“waste”.

Hazardous wastes(seeArticle1paragraph1oftheBaselConvention)

(a) Wastes that belong to any category contained in Annex I to theConvention, unless they do not possess any of the characteristicscontainedinAnnexIII;and

(b) Wastesthatarenotcoveredunderparagraph(a)butaredefinedas,orareconsideredtobe,hazardouswastesbythedomestic legislationofthePartyofexport,importortransit.

Hazardous characteristics AnyofthecharacteristicscontainedinAnnexIIItotheBaselConvention.Explanatory notes:Wastes fallingunderAnnex I to theConventionarepresumed toexhibitahazardouscharacteristiclistedinAnnexIIItotheConventionunless,through“national tests”, they can be shown to not exhibit those characteristics.National testing may be useful for identifying a particular hazardouscharacteristiclistedinAnnexIIIuntilsuchtimeasthehazardouscharacteristicis fully documented. Interim Guidelines on Hazardous Characteristic H12(Ecotoxic) were adopted by the sixth meeting of the Conference of theParties.7ThreeguidancepapersonthehazardcharacteristicsH6.2(infectioussubstances),H11(toxic(delayedorchronic))andH13(capableafterdisposal

7 Decision VI/26, see document UNEP/CHW.6/26, annex, available at: http://www.basel.int/TheConvention/ConferenceofthePartiesCOP/PreviousMeetings/PreviousMeetingsDocuments/tabid/2409/Default.aspx?meetingId=1&sessionId=3.

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ofyieldinganotherhazardousmaterial)wereadoptedonaninterimbasisbytheseventhmeetingoftheConferenceoftheParties.8

Wastes contained in Annex VIII to the Convention are characterizedas hazardous under Article 1, paragraph 1 (a) of the Convention andtheir designation onAnnex VIII does not preclude the use of Annex III todemonstratethatawasteisnothazardous.WastescontainedinAnnexIXtotheConventionwillnotbewastescoveredbyArticle1,paragraph1(a),oftheConventionunlesstheycontainAnnexImaterialtoanextentcausingthemtoexhibitanAnnexIIIcharacteristic.In addition to the hazardous characteristics listed in Annex III to theConvention, hazardous characteristics defined at the national level mayberelevant in thecontextofArticle1,paragraph1 (b)andArticle3of theConvention.

Non-hazardous waste Awastethatdoesnotmeetthedefinitionof“hazardouswaste”.

Disposal(seeArticle2paragraph4oftheBaselConvention)AnyoperationspecifiedinAnnexIVtotheBaselConvention.

Explanatory notes:

Annex IV includes twocategoriesofdisposaloperations: (1)finaldisposaloperationsinAnnexIVA;and(2)recoveryoperationsinAnnexIVB.Disposal is considered to be the key element of the Basel Convention’sdefinitionofwaste.Sincesomeofthelistedoperationsdescribeactivitiesthatmayalsoberelevanttonon-waste,allcircumstancesneedtobeassessedindeterminingwhetherthesubstanceorobjectiswaste,seetheexplanatorynoteunder(a)(i)a.for“wastes”above.Disposalmaybedoneinmorethanonestage,soitincludesinterimoperations(seeAnnexIVAoperationsD13toD15andAnnexIVBoperationsR12andR13).

8 DecisionVII/17,seedocumentsUNEP/CHW.7/11/Add.1/Rev.1,Add.2/Rev.1andAdd.3/Rev.1, respectively,availableat:http://www.basel.int/TheConvention/ConferenceofthePartiesCOP/PreviousMeetings/PreviousMeetingsDocuments/tabid/2409/Default.aspx?meetingId= 1&sessionId=27&languageId=1.

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Final disposal CommonlyusedtorefertooperationsspecifiedinAnnexIVAtotheBaselConvention.

Explanatory notes:

(a) Pre-existingdefinition: Revisedguidancedocumentontheenvironmentallysoundmanagement

of used and end-of-life computing equipment:9 “Disposal operationsspecifiedinAnnexIVAtotheBaselConvention.”

(b) Interimoperations: Finaldisposalmaybedoneinmorethanonestage,soitincludesinterim

operationssuchasstorage(seeAnnexIVAoperationsD13toD15).(c) Environmentallysoundmanagement: Final disposal and recovery operations should be performed in an

environmentallysoundmanner.(d) Finaldisposaloperationsaretobedistinguishedfromrecoveryoperations: Recovery operations, unlike final disposal operations, make use of

resourcesastheywillobtainsomeusefulbenefitfromthewaste,eitherbybringingitbackintoproductiveuseorrecoveringenergyfromit.

RecoveryCommonlyusedtorefertooperationsspecifiedinAnnexIVBtotheBaselConvention.

Explanatory notes:

(a) Pre-existingdefinitions:(i) Technicalguidelinesontransboundarymovementsofelectricaland

electronicwaste and used electrical and electronic equipment, inparticular regarding thedistinctionbetweenwaste andnon-wasteunder the Basel Convention:10 “Relevant operations specified inAnnexIV,partB,totheBaselConvention.”

9 Sections1,2,4and5oftheguidancedocumentwereadoptedbydecisionBC-11/15.Theglossaryoftermsissetout intheappendixI totheguidancedocument,whichissetoutintheannextodocumentUNEP/CHW.11/6/Add.1/Rev.1,availableat:http://www.basel.int/TheConvention/ConferenceoftheParties/Meetings/COP11/tabid/3256/Default.aspx.

10 The technical guidelines, adopted by decision BC-12/5, are set out in the annex todocumentUNEP/CHW.12/5/Add.1/Rev.1,availableat:http://www.basel.int/TheConvention/ConferenceoftheParties/Meetings/COP12/tabid/4248/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/8051/EventID/542/xmid/13027/Default.aspx.

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(ii) Technical guidelines on the environmentally sound co-processingofhazardouswastesincementkilns:11“Anyoperationwherewasteisservingausefulpurposebyreplacingothermaterialsthatwouldotherwise have been used to fulfil a particular function, or wastebeing prepared to fulfil that function, in the plant or in the widereconomy”.

(iii) Technical guidelines on the environmentally sound recycling/reclamation of metals and metal compounds (R4):12 “Recovery:Takingmetallicormetal-containingitemsandmetallicpiecesbeforetheyreachthewastestreamortakingthemoutofthewastestream.”

(b) GenerictermforAnnexIVBoperations:“Recovery”iscommonlyusedtorefertooperationsspecifiedinAnnexIVBtotheBaselConvention,althoughonlytwooperationslistedinAnnexIVBreferexplicitlyto“recovery”.Inaddition,nationallegislationinsomecountriesmayusetheterm“recycling”torefertotheoperationslistedinAnnexIVB.Furthermore,accordingtodecisionBC-12/1,thereiscurrentlya review process of Annex IV, for the consideration of the thirteenthmeetingoftheConferenceofthePartiestotheBaselConvention.

(c) Interimoperations:Recoverymaybedone inmore thanonestage,so it includes interimoperations(seeAnnexIVBoperationsR12andR13).

(d) Environmentallysoundmanagement:Recovery and final disposal operations should be performed in anenvironmentallysoundmanner.

(e) Usefulbenefitfromrecoveryoperations:Recovery operationsmake use of resources as theywill obtain someusefulbenefitfromthewaste,eitherbybringingitbackintoproductiveuseorrecoveringenergyfromit.Arecoveryoperationcanbeunderstoodasanoperation theprincipal resultofwhich iswasteservingausefulpurposebyreplacingothermaterialswhichwouldotherwisehavebeenusedtofulfilaparticularfunction,orwastebeingpreparedtofulfilthatfunction,intheplantorinthewidereconomy.

11 The technical guidelines, adopted by decision BC-10/8 are set out in the annex todocumentUNEP/CHW.10/6/Add.3/Rev.1availableat:http://www.basel.int/Implementation/Publications/TechnicalGuidelines/tabid/2362/Default.aspx#.

12 The technical guidelines, adopted by decision VII/14, are available at: www.basel.int/Implementation/Publications/TechnicalGuidelines/tabid/2362/Default.aspx.

http://www.basel.int/Implementation/Publications/TechnicalGuidelines/tabid/2362/Default.aspx

http://www.basel.int/Implementation/Publications/TechnicalGuidelines/tabid/2362/Default.aspx

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(f) Distinguishedfromreuseanddirectreuse:Theterm“recovery”doesnot includetheactual reuseordirectreuse.ThecaptiontoAnnexIVBreferstooperationsthatmayleadtodirectreuse.Howevernooperationlistedmayleadtodirectreuseasthattermitselfrequiresthatreusewilloccurwithoutrepairorrefurbishment.Therecoveryoperationslistedincludeoperationsthatmayleadtoreuse(suchasR9–usedoilre-refining).Onceoilisre-refined,itisnolongerwasteand its reuse is thereforenota recoveryoperationassuchoperationsonlyapplytowaste.

(g) Relationshipto“repair”and“refurbishment”:NosuitableoperationislistedinAnnexIVtotheConventionthatdescribes“repair”or “refurbishment”. In somecountries,national legislationhasrecognizedthatwhererepairisnecessarytoprepareawasteforreuse,itisregardedasarecoveryoperation.

Recycling RelevantoperationsspecifiedinAnnexIVBtotheBaselConvention.

Explanatory notes:


electronicwaste and used electrical and electronic equipment, inparticular regarding thedistinctionbetweenwaste andnon-wasteunder the Basel Convention:13 “Relevant operations specified inAnnexIV,partB,totheBaselConvention.”

(ii) Revised guidance document on the environmentally soundmanagement of used and end-of-life computing equipment:14 “RelevantoperationsspecifiedinAnnexIVBtotheBaselConvention.”

(iii) Revised technical guidelines for the environmentally soundmanagement of used andwaste pneumatic tyres:15 “Any process



15 Thetechnicalguidelines,adoptedbydecisionBC-10/6,areavailableat:http://www.basel.int/Implementation/Publications/TechnicalGuidelines/tabid/2362/Default.aspx.

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bywhichwaste tyres are reprocessed into products,materials orsubstances for any purpose. It does not include energy recoveryor reprocessing into materials for use as fuels or in backfillingoperations.”

(iv) Technical guidelines on the environmentally sound recycling/reclamation of metals and metal compounds (R4):16 “(a) Thepreparation of recovered items and pieces so that they may beuseddirectly(e.g., indirectremelt)orsentforreclamation;(b)Theseriesofactivities,includingcollection,separation,andprocessing,bywhichproductsorothermaterialsare recovered fromthesolidwastestreamforuseintheformofrawmaterialsinthemanufactureof new products, other than fuel for producing heat or power bycombustion.”

(b) Distinguishedfromotherrecoveryoperations:Recycling operations usually involves the reprocessing of waste intoproducts,materials or substances, though not necessarily for the originalpurpose. Resources are saved by recovering material benefits from thewaste.Recyclingistobedistinguishedfromoperationsthatrecoverenergyfromthewaste. Insomecountries,wherematerial isusedoncemerelyforitsphysicalpropertiese.g.forbackfilling,thisdoesnotamounttorecycling.Anexampleisusedlubricatingoilre-refinedwhichcouldresultinhighgradeoilwhichisvaluableforitschemicalpropertiesandhencethatwouldbearecyclingoperation.Usedoilcouldalsosimplybeusedasafuelsothattherecoveryoperationwouldbeenergyrecoveryandnotrecycling.

RepairFixing a specified fault in an object that is a waste or a product and/orreplacingdefectivecomponents, inorder tomake thewasteorproduct afullyfunctionalproducttobeusedforitsoriginallyintendedpurpose.

Explanatory notes:


electronicwaste and used electrical and electronic equipment, inparticular regarding thedistinctionbetweenwaste andnon-waste

16 The technical guidelines, adopted by decision VII/14, are available at: www.basel.int/Implementation/Publications/TechnicalGuidelines/tabid/2362/Default.aspx.

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under the Basel Convention:17 “Fixing a specified fault in usedequipment that isawasteoraproductand/or replacingdefectivecomponentsofequipment inorder tomake theequipmenta fullyfunctionalproducttobeusedforitsoriginallyintendedpurpose.”

(ii) Revised guidance document on the environmentally soundmanagementofusedandend-of-lifecomputingequipment:18“Fixingspecifiedfaultsincomputingequipmentand/orreplacingdefectivecomponents of computing equipment to bring the computingequipmentintoafullyfunctionalcondition.”

(b) Doesnotdeterminewhetheranobjectiswaste/non-waste:Repair is an operation that can be applied to both waste and non-waste.Thereforebyitself,theneedforrepair isnotasuitablecriterionfordistinguishingbetweenwasteandnon-waste.AlthoughrepairisnotlistedasanoperationinAnnexIV,nationallegislationinsomecountrieshasrecognisedrepairasarecoveryoperationwhere it isensuredthatwasteismadesuitableforreuse.

RefurbishmentModificationofanobjectthatisawasteoraproducttoincreaseorrestoreitsperformanceand/orfunctionalityortomeetapplicabletechnicalstandardsorregulatoryrequirements,withtheresultofmakingthewasteorproductafullyfunctionalproducttobeusedforapurposethatisatleasttheonethatwasoriginallyintended.

Explanatory notes:


electronicwaste and used electrical and electronic equipment, inparticular regarding thedistinctionbetweenwaste andnon-waste



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under theBaselConvention.19 “Modificationofusedequipment toincreaseorrestore itsperformanceand/or functionalityor tomeetapplicabletechnicalstandardsorregulatoryrequirements,withtheresultofmakingitafullyfunctionalproducttobeusedforapurposethatisatleasttheoneforwhichitwasoriginallyintended,includingthroughsuchactivitiesascleaninganddatasanitization.”

(ii) Revised guidance document on the environmentally soundmanagement of used and end-of-life computing equipment:20 “Modification of used computing equipment to increase itsperformance and functionality or to meet applicable technicalstandards or regulatory requirements, including through suchactivitiesascleaning,datasanitizationandsoftwareupgrading.”

(b) Doesnotdeterminewhetheranobjectiswaste/non-waste:Refurbishment isanoperation thatcanbeapplied tobothwasteandnon-waste.Thereforebyitself,theneedforrefurbishmentisnotasuitablecriterionfordistinguishingbetweenwasteandnon-waste.

ReuseTheusingagainofaproduct,objectorsubstancethatisnotwasteforthesamepurposeforwhichitwasconceived,possiblyafterrepairorrefurbishment.

Explanatory notes:


electronicwaste and used electrical and electronic equipment, inparticular regarding thedistinctionbetweenwaste andnon-wasteunder theBaselConvention:21 “Theusing againof fully functionalequipmentthatisnotwasteforthesamepurposeforwhichitwasconceived,possiblyafterrepairorrefurbishment.”




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(ii) Revised guidance document on the environmentally soundmanagement of used and end-of-life computing equipment:22 “The using again, by a person other than its previous owner, ofused computing equipment or a functional component fromusedcomputing equipment that is notwaste for the samepurpose forwhich it was conceived, possibly after refurbishment, repair orhardwareupgrading.”

(iii) Technicalguidelinesfortheenvironmentallysoundmanagementofthe fullandpartialdismantlingofship:23 “Whenaproduct isusedagain following normal use. Implies recovery and refurbishmentbeforetheproductcanbereused.”

(b) Pointofreuse:Reusereferstothepointatwhichthesubstanceorobjectisbeingusedfor thepurposeforwhich itwasconceived,anddoesnot refer toanyoperationstoenablethattooccur.Onceausedsubstanceorobjectisbeingreused,itisnotwaste.

(c) Reuseencouraged:Reuseof usedobjectsor substances is tobeencouragedbecause itpromotes resource efficiency, especially of non-renewable resources.Encouragingreusewillsometimeshelppreventanobjectorsubstancefrombecomingwaste,orinsomecasesbringwastebackintouse.

(d) Alternativeuseencouraged:Reuseofasubstanceorobjectislimitedtothesamepurposeforwhichitwasconceived.Theremaybealternativeuses,forapurposeotherthanforwhich itwas conceived, that are beneficial because theypromoteresource efficiency. Encouraging alternative use will sometimes helppreventanobjectorsubstancefrombecomingwaste,orinsomecasesbringwastebackintouse.Forexample,tyrescanbeusedasfendersonquaysidesinaport.Careshouldbetakenthatsuchalternativeusesdo not harm human health and the environment. For example, usedpesticidescontainersshouldnotbeusedfortransportingdrinkingwater.

(e) Charitabledonation:Reusecanapplytousedsubstancesorobjectsthataretransferredfor


23 The technical guidelines, adopted by decision VI/24, are available at: www.basel.int/Implementation/Publications/TechnicalGuidelines/tabid/2362/Default.aspx.

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purposesofcharityandwithoutanymonetaryrewardsorbenefits,orforbarter.

(f) Needforcertaintyofactualreuse:Whereausedsubstanceorobject is tobe reused, inparticular if it isexportedforreuse, includingforcharitabledonation,thereneedstobesufficientcertaintythatitwillactuallybereused,becauseif it isnot, itsdisposalmayposeathreattohumanhealthandtheenvironment.Inthiscontext,itisnecessarytoconsiderfactorssuchasfunctionalityandtheneedforrepairorrefurbishmentpriortoreuse.Inaddition,factorssuchasappearance,obsolescence24andinsufficientprotectionagainstdamageduring transport, loading and unloading may cast doubt on whetherreusewillactuallyoccur.25Thesefactorsmaysuggest insteadanintenttodisposeoftheusedsubstanceorobject,whichwouldmakeitawaste.

Direct reuse Theusingagainofaproduct,objectorsubstancethatisnotwasteforthesamepurposeforwhichitwasconceivedwithoutthenecessityofrepairorrefurbishment.

Explanatory notes:


electronicwaste and used electrical and electronic equipment, inparticular regarding thedistinctionbetweenwaste andnon-wasteunder theBaselConvention:26 “Theusing againof fully functionalequipmentthatisnotwaste,forthesamepurposeforwhichitwasconceived,withoutthenecessityofrepairorrefurbishment.”

(ii) Revised guidance document on the environmentally soundmanagementofusedandend-of-lifecomputingequipment:27“The

24 Obsoletemeansnolongerproducedorused,oroutofdate(seehttp://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/english/obsolete).

25 There are difficult distinctionswhich are amenable to being addressed through technicalguidance.



GLOSSARY OF TERMS

21

usingagain,byapersonotherthanitspreviousowner,ofcomputingequipmentandcomponentsthatarenotwasteforthesamepurposefor which they were conceived without the necessity of repair,refurbishmentorhardwareupgrading.”

(b) “Norepairorrefurbishment”:Theterm“directreuse”excludestheneedofrepairorrefurbishmentofanobjectorsubstanceinorderforittobesuitableforreuse.Directreusegenerallyappliestothereuseofasubstanceorfullyfunctionalobjecti.e.anobjectthatwastestedanddemonstratedtobecapableofperformingthekeyfunction(s)thatitwasdesignedtoperform.Afullyfunctionalusedobjectthatisdestinedfordirectreuseisnotconsideredtobeawaste,unlessso-classifiedbynationallaw.

Basel ConventionGlossary of terms

Designed and printed at United Nations, Geneva – 1735691 (E) – December 2017 – 1,000 – UNEP/BRS/2017/3

Secretariat of the Basel ConventionUnited Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

International Environment House11-13 Chemin des Anémones

CH-1219 Châtelaine GE, SwitzerlandTel: +41 22 917 8271Fax: +41 22 917 8098

Email: [email protected]

www.basel.int