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E/CN.17/1997/2/Add.19 |
Economic and Social Council
Distr. GENERAL
22 January 1997
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Fifth session
7-25 April 1997
Overall progress achieved since the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development
Report of the Secretary-General
Addendum
Environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes,
including prevention of illegal international traffic
in hazardous wastes *
(Chapter 20 of Agenda 21)
(* The report was prepared by UNEP, as task manager for chapter 20 of
Agenda 21, in accordance with arrangements agreed to by the Inter-
Agency Committee on Sustainable Development (IACSD). It is the result
of consultation and information exchange between United Nations
agencies, international and national science organizations, interested
government agencies and a range of other institutions and
individuals.)
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
I. KEY OBJECTIVES ......................................... 1 - 3 2
II. SUCCESSES .............................................. 4 - 18 3
III. PROMISING CHANGES ...................................... 19 - 23 6
IV. UNFULFILLED EXPECTATIONS ............................... 24 - 27 7
V. EMERGING PRIORITIES .................................... 28 - 36 8
I. KEY OBJECTIVES
1. This report reviews progress made in the implementation of the
objectives set out in Chapter 20 of Agenda 21 (Environmentally sound
management of hazardous wastes, including prevention of illegal
international traffic in hazardous wastes), 1/ taking into account the
decisions taken by the Commission on Sustainable Development on this
subject at its second session, in 1994. Chapter 20 of Agenda 21
addresses the need to develop environmentally sound management of
hazardous wastes in ways that protect human health and the environment
and ensure proper management of natural resources. It sets as overall
objectives the prevention and minimization of hazardous wastes and the
environmentally sound management of the remaining wastes.
2. Chapter 20 calls specifically for ratification or accession of the
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal and the expeditious elaboration of
its related protocols, and for the elimination of the export of
hazardous wastes. It also calls for the ratification and full
implementation by the countries concerned of the Bamako Convention on
the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary
Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa and the
elaboration of a protocol on liability and compensation. Chapter 20
calls for international and regional cooperation to achieve the goals
contained therein.
3. The four major programme areas of chapter 20 and their main
objectives are outlined below.
A. Promoting the prevention and minimization of hazardous wastes
(a) To reduce the generation of hazardous wastes, as part of an
integrated cleaner production approach;
(b) To optimize the use of materials by recycling;
(c) To enhance knowledge of the economies of prevention and
management of hazardous wastes.
B. Promoting and strengthening institutional capacities
in hazardous waste management
(a) To establish appropriate national measures and programmes in
environmentally sound hazardous waste management;
(b) To promote research and development, human resources
development, capacity-building and the dissemination of information
concerning hazardous wastes.
C. Promoting and strengthening international cooperation
in the management of transboundary movements of
hazardous wastes
(a) To harmonize the procedure and criteria used for identifying
waste and for controlling transboundary movements of hazardous wastes,
particularly to countries that do not have the capacity to deal with
those wastes in an environmentally sound way or that have banned the
import of hazardous wastes;
(b) To promote the development of control procedures for
transboundary movements that encourage environmentally and
economically sound recycling operations.
D. Preventing illegal international traffic in
hazardous wastes
(a) To halt illegal attempts to introduce hazardous waste into
any State in contravention of national and international legislation;
(b) To assist all countries, in particular developing countries,
in obtaining all appropriate information on illegal traffic in
hazardous wastes;
(c) To provide appropriate assistance, within the framework of
the Basel Convention, to countries that suffer the consequences of
illegal traffic in hazardous wastes.
II. SUCCESSES
4. Since 1992, the organizations of the United Nations have
collectively or separately provided a platform for discussion, debate
and coordination of hazardous waste management and cleaner production
activities; information, guidance documents and training support to
enable decision makers in Governments and in other parts of society to
make environmentally sound decisions; and intergovernmental forums for
the negotiation and implementation of instruments to assist countries
with policies and measures for the management of hazardous waste and
the control of transboundary movements of wastes.
Programme area A: Promoting the prevention and minimization of
hazardous wastes
5. There is an increasing worldwide interest in a "cleaner
production" approach, which can at the same time reconcile economic
and environmental objectives. "Eco-efficiency" is now a term used, in
particular by industry, to promote the effective implementation of
this preventive approach. In addition, it has been recognized that
the concept also applies to other economic sectors, in particular
agriculture, health services and households. Training material has
been developed by various international agencies to assist United
Nations Member States in implementing cleaner production practices.
For example, a "train-the-trainers" kit has been jointly produced by
the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Fe'de'ration
internationale des inge'nieurs (FIDIC) and the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) on environmental management systems,
which will assist in implementing the 14000 standard of the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO). In addition,
UNEP and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization
(UNIDO) have jointly prepared a training kit for managers of national
cleaner production centres. Progresses in cleaner production
worldwide are regularly reviewed: every two years, UNEP convenes a
high-level seminar involving the various partners in government,
industry, non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental
organizations, to assess achievements and barriers to the development
of cleaner production and eco-efficiency, and to suggest future
action. Since the Conference, such seminars have been held in Paris,
Warsaw and Oxford.
6. A number of projects around the world, involving several
organizations of the United Nations system, clearly demonstrate the
results that can be achieved by the cleaner production approach. For
example, a cleaner production project jointly implemented by the World
Bank, UNEP and the Government of China led to the establishment of
China's National Cleaner Production Centre, a network of institutions
active in cleaner production, and to more than 150 Chinese
professionals being qualified in environmental auditing. Proven
annual benefits have been calculated at US$ 2.9 million in
27 enterprises alone, with a catalytic effect all over China.
7. Eight national cleaner production centres have now been
established in Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, India, Mexico,
Slovakia, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe with support
from UNIDO and UNEP. Another 43 similar centres in 37 countries, such
as Indonesia, South Africa and Tunisia, have also been established by
the countries themselves or with the support of bilateral
organizations. All centres are now part of a worldwide network
exchanging experience through workshops and newsletters.
8. Information on cleaner production technologies, policies and best
practices has been increasingly made available at national and
international levels. The UNEP International Cleaner Production
Information Clearinghouse (ICPIC) contains about 600 bibliographic
references, 300 cleaner production case studies, including cost
benefit analyses, and a list of more than 100 organizations active in
cleaner production. The information is available on paper and
diskette and will soon be on the Internet. ICPIC has a corollary in
UNIDO's information clearing house, INTIB, with its Energy and
Environment Information System. A number of relevant publications
have been produced, such as those from UNEP on life-cycle assessment,
government policies and strategies for cleaner production.
9. The international financial institutions are now aware of the
standards that the projects they are funding should achieve. For
example, in cooperation with UNEP and UNIDO, the World Bank has
adopted guidelines for its field project managers which emphasize the
need for a cleaner production/pollution prevention approach.
10. The Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), through its Convention
on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution and related protocols on SOx
and NOx compounds, has developed a by-products management policy,
followed by branch-specific approaches for stationary installations
covering all industrial sectors relevant to transboundary pollution.
The cyclical ECE seminars issue publications on control technology for
emissions from stationary sources.
Programme area B: Promoting and strengthening institutional
capacities in hazardous waste management
11. Over 100 countries are now Parties to the Basel Convention. The
fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties was held in October
1997. In order to assist in establishing appropriate national
measures, the Convention secretariat has produced a number of
publications, including various technical guidelines for the
environmentally sound management of wastes subject to the Convention
(organic solvents, used oils, PCBs, household wastes). It has also
issued guidelines for the management of disposal facilities (landfill,
incineration, oil re-refining), an updated model legislation on waste
management, a compilation of national provisions, and guidance
documents on the management of hazardous wastes and transboundary
movements of hazardous wastes destined for recovery operations. A
number of seminars have been held to increase awareness of the Basel
Convention and of environmentally sound management of hazardous
wastes, whether moved across frontiers or generated locally. Many
countries have adopted legislation and established the necessary
mechanisms to implement the Basel Convention.
12. In Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Central and Eastern
Europe, Asia and the Pacific, there are plans for the establishment of
regional or subregional centres for training and technology transfer
regarding management of hazardous wastes and the minimization of their
generation. The centres will work in close association on waste
minimization issues with the national cleaner production centres. The
regional centre for Eastern Europe, based in Slovakia, is now in
operation.
13. The IMO Office for the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine
Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter has published the
report of the Interagency Global Waste Survey, which includes country
case studies of policies, measures and programmes in hazardous waste
management. UNEP has undertaken an international survey of the
situation with respect to contaminated sites. Technical guidelines
and training material for site evaluation and remediation have been
prepared with the assistance of various partners.
14. More adequate waste treatment facilities are now available in
industrialized countries, economies in transition and developing
countries. An increasing number of countries have developed or have
national plans for hazardous waste management. Assistance has been
increasingly given to developing countries to deal with immediate or
acute problems (such as asbestos in buildings, PCB wastes, obsolete
pharmaceuticals and pesticides).
Programme area C: Promoting and strengthening international
cooperation in the management of transboundary movements of hazardous
wastes
15. The third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel
Convention, held in September 1995 in Geneva, adopted a decision to
amend the Convention with respect to a prohibition by all Parties
members of both the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) and the European Union (EU) of all transboundary
movements of hazardous wastes that are destined for final disposal in
other States. It also decided to phase out by 31 December 1997 and
prohibit from that date all transboundary movements of hazardous
wastes for recovery, recycling, reclamation, direct use or alternative
uses from party members of OECD and EU to other States. This export
ban will help strengthen the countries' existing import bans and be an
incentive for them to minimize the generation of wastes at source.
The Technical Working Group under the Convention is making progress in
defining in an unambiguous way which hazardous wastes apply to the
Convention.
16. The Bamako Convention came into force on 20 March 1996, 90 days
after Cameroon ratified the instrument. At least 11 countries have
ratified the Convention, and many more are expected to follow in the
near future. Other regional protocols concerning the transboundary
movements of hazardous wastes have entered into force (for example, in
the Pacific region) or are being developed. Work continues on the
preparation of a protocol on liability and compensation for damages
resulting from transboundary movements or disposal of hazardous
wastes.
17. The OECD continues to maintain and review its listing of hazardous
waste (red, amber, green lists) concerning documentation requirements
for transfrontier movements for recycling.
Programme area D: Preventing illegal international traffic in
hazardous wastes
18. International cooperation, involving Interpol, inter alia,
continues to help prevent illegal traffic in hazardous wastes, and
major collaborative efforts are being made by the World Customs
Organization, the secretariat of the Basel Convention, EU and OECD for
the separate identification of hazardous wastes in a harmonized system
of classification and labelling of chemicals, as mentioned in chapter
20 of Agenda 21.
III. PROMISING CHANGES
19. Related cleaner production and eco-efficiency approaches are now
recognized by an increasing number of Governments, and by business and
industry as the way to reconcile environmental protection, effective
management of natural resources and economic development. There is an
increasing recognition that cleaner production patterns and adequate
waste management cannot be successfully achieved exclusively through
the use of adequate technologies, but that good management practices
and systems must also be adopted.
20. Many countries are developing corresponding policies and
strategies and setting up the necessary institutional framework to
inform and train industry. The establishment of national cleaner
production centres is one example of this progress.
21. Decision makers in government and industry now have access to
quality and "user friendly" information on cleaner technologies, on
technologies to treat hazardous wastes, on operating practices, and on
policies required to achieve environmentally sound management of
hazardous wastes. Information is provided using various disseminating
mechanisms, including new electronic systems and networks. An
inventory of information sources on environmentally sound technologies
is available, and a coordinating mechanism between the various
providers of information is being created, facilitated by UNEP, better
to identify users' need and avoid duplication of efforts.
22. Training and capacity-building are continuing through the
publication and dissemination of UNEP's training manuals, including
the translation of key manuals into Spanish, Russian and Chinese. The
secretariat of the Basel Convention continues to organize regional
training meetings in the context of its programme to develop regional
centres. The education of future industry managers is also taking
place, and UNEP together with the World Business Council for
Sustainable Development and a number of educational institutions has
undertaken a process to ensure the inclusion of the environmental
dimension in the curriculum of business and engineering schools and
universities.
23. The ECE countries have introduced the so-called 5-R policy and
strategy which promotes reduction at source, replacement, recycling,
recovery and reutilization, laying the ground for cleaner production
programmes. Similarly, the ECE programme on environmental performance
review, designed for countries in transition, offers a good
opportunity to monitor changes due to the implementation of policies
for environmentally sound production and consumption and due to the
enforcement of international agreements. It could also provide a
model for other regions.
IV. UNFULFILLED EXPECTATIONS
24. In spite of the progress achieved towards environmentally sound
management of hazardous wastes, financial and human resources are
insufficient at both the national and international levels to fully
implement chapter 20 of Agenda 21. When appropriate legislation and
regulations do exist, they are often not complied with, due to lack of
capacity or resources. Given that many countries, particularly in the
developing world, lack adequate institutional capacity in hazardous
waste management and in monitoring illegal imports of chemical and
hazardous wastes, there is an urgent need for strengthening national
capacity for the effective management of such wastes.
25. Technology choices made by countries still do not sufficiently
take into account their overall environmental impact, in particular,
the impact on wastes. There is a pressing need to accelerate the
introduction of cleaner technologies that generate less hazardous
waste in the first place, as opposed to continued reliance on more
expensive and more environmentally dangerous end-of-pipe clean-up
measures. Greater efforts are required at the international level to
ensure adequate transfers of cleaner technologies, including transfers
on a preferential or non-commercial basis, particularly to developing
countries.
26. The need to control illegal traffic in wastes has led to
regulations and procedures which might present difficulties for
genuine recycling of some wastes, particularly by financially strapped
institutions in both the public and private sectors. Small- and
medium-size enterprises are often difficult to reach, and still see
"eco-efficiency" as an additional cost, not as a potential source of
benefits.
27. In spite of efforts undertaken to facilitate the transfer of
environmentally sustainable technologies, 2/ there is still a need to
enhance the transfer of more up-to-date technologies and to develop
new techniques for cleaner production and waste reuse.
V. EMERGING PRIORITIES
28. While the focus has so far been put on the reduction of hazardous
wastes from industrial processes, there is now need to develop ways to
reduce hazardous wastes from other sources: hospitals, agriculture,
domestic use, etc., through the redesign of products and improved
operational practices. Goods for final consumption, such as
electronic appliances, refrigeration and cars, need to be thoroughly
addressed.
29. There is now need also to address the demand side of goods and
services and reconsider consumption patterns. 3/
30. Contamination of soil and water (both surface and groundwater),
resulting from past inadequate management of wastes, is gradually
being given higher priority in developing countries and in countries
in transition, as consciousness of its health impacts increases. 4/
31. In the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine
Environment from Land-based Activities, 5/ persistent organic pollutants
(POPs) are a priority concern. The control of discharges, direct or
indirect, of hazardous wastes into the marine environment is part of
this emerging priority.
32. The continued use of outdated technologies which contribute to the
generation of unnecessary hazardous waste remains a problem,
particularly in developing countries and economies in transition, and
needs further attention by both Governments and international
agencies.
33. Continued improvement in pollution prevention and efficient use of
raw materials will probably not suffice to bring about the needed
increase (by a factor of 4-6) in the productivity of the use of raw
materials to achieve sustainable development. Technological
innovations and breakthroughs are also required. Partnerships at the
local, national and international levels, involving all stakeholders,
must continue to be developed. Simultaneously, negotiated agreements
by industry sectors, specifying quantitative targets, to minimize
wastes and other emissions, should be increasingly used.
34. There is an urgent need to devote increased attention to the
provision of adequate occupational safety and health conditions for
workers involved in the management of hazardous wastes, including
minimization, disposal and remediation activities.
35. Infectious material in health care waste emerges as a priority
concern, particularly with the spread of AIDS. This includes not only
hospital wastes but also other medical material discarded by health
care facilities.
36. There is a need to develop better indicators to monitor progress
in implementation in environmentally sound hazardous waste management
and in controlling illegal traffic in hazardous wastes, particularly
to developing countries.
Notes
1/ Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United
Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution
1, annex II.
2/ See also E/CN.17/1997/2/Add.37.
3/ See also E/CN.17/1997/2/Add.3.
4/ See also E/CN.17/1997/2/Add.17.
5/ A/51/116, annex II.
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Date last posted: 10 December 1999 17:25:35
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