E‑Waste & Transboundary Movements: Key Agenda Item Ahead of Geneva Discussions

The Basel Convention's Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) will meet in Geneva from 23–26 June and e-waste is on their agenda. This convention is the primary multilateral agreement on transboundary movements of hazardous waste, including e-waste. It requires exporting countries to notify and obtain prior written consent from importing and transit states before any shipment. Since January 2025, this prior informed consent procedure applies to all transboundary movements of e-waste — including non-hazardous equipment. Any movement that bypasses it constitutes illegal traffic. Non-binding technical guidelines further help countries, particularly developing nations, apply the Convention's rules in practice. A key OEWG agenda item is the update of technical guidelines on transboundary movements of e-waste and used electrical equipment, which determines whether a shipment falls under the Convention's controls. Updated guidelines are to be ready for the next Conference of the Parties (COP) in 2027. Global e-waste generation has nearly doubled over the past decade, rising from 34 billion kg in 2010 to 62 billion kg in 2022, driven by the rapid electronification of everyday life. E-waste contains valuable recoverable materials (e.g. gold or rare earth elements), but also hazardous substances requiring careful handling. Around 5.1 billion kg of e-waste crosses borders each year, largely due to economic incentives and regulatory gaps: processing costs are lower in countries with weaker environmental standards, and demand for recoverable materials drives imports into ill-equipped regions to handle waste safely. 65% of these flows (around 3.3 billion kg) move through uncontrolled and undocumented channels, with severe consequences for human health and the environment in recipient countries.