basel convention, definition of

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is an international agreement governing the handling of hazardous and other wastes.

Signed by 172 nations, the Convention has been in force since 1992 and makes it illegal to ship hazardous or landfill waste from one country for in another. It does not cover waste designated for recycling, which can be exported for processing abroad.

• Discarded Electronics Are Poisoning African Children!
  If you’ve ever wondered where that computer, refrigerator or TV you threw away ended up, you may not like the answer. A recent expose on ABC.com reveals the dirty secret behind electronic wastes: many products discarded by developed nations like...