India was one of the first countries of the global south in the early 1990s to call for a ban on exports to developing countries. India notified the hazardous waste rules in 1989 before the Basel Convention came into force in 1992, and became a party to the Basel Convention in 1992.
Plastics have boosted our economy because they are highly flexible, durable, and cheap. However, their massive use has created an enormous global problem with environmental, economic, social, and health repercussions. Existing international measures to deal with plastic pollution are insufficient to successfully addressing the problem.
Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Disposal of e-waste as per Basel Convention, 13/08/2015. Central Pollution Control Board in the year 2005 had estimated a quantity of 8 lakh tonne of e-waste generation in the country in the year 2012. e-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 have been notified for effective management of e-waste.
India is the fifth largest generator of e-waste in the world revealed this new report released by the United Nations University. India (1.7 Mt) along with Japan (2.2 Mt) and China (6.0 Mt) is amongst the top three Asian nations with the highest e-waste generation in absolute quantities.
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative has released the first draft global standard for sustainable aluminium production focusing on environmental, social and governance aspects for public consultation. It is out for public consultation from 1 February until 29 March 2014. Read full text and send your comments.
See also "Responsible Aluminium Scoping Phase : Main report"
Read text of the Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2013 released by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on 14 Oct 2013.
Despite being a signatory to Ban Amendment of Basel Convention, the United Kingdom has dumped more than 600,000 kilograms of potentially hazardous plastic scrap in Pakistan during June 2013.
New Delhi, 6 JULY: The Supreme Court today directed the Centre to ban imports of all substances identified and declared to be hazardous or toxic wastes under the Basel Convention and its protocols.
