Dec 29 - U.S. EPA Toughens Hazardous Waste Shipment Regulations
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has toughened its regulations for the shipping of hazardous waste - including e-waste - for recycling between the United States and other countries. The new measures are aimed at increasing the level of regulatory oversight, and provide stricter controls and greater transparency.
Transboundary movement of hazardous waste shows an e-waste accumulation of roughly 6 billion tons, which has exposed some workers in developing countries to dangerous chemicals, according to a report from the Basel Convention.
The revisions and new procedures are to ensure that the hazardous wastes are handled in a more timely and documented manner, and to better track and document the subsequent recovery. For example, U.S. recovery facilities must submit a certificate after recovery of the waste has been completed. Also, there must be export notification and consent requirements for spent lead-acid batteries (SLABs); In addition, U.S. hazardous waste management facilities must confirm that individual import shipments comply with the terms of EPA’s consent.
Read the article.
Read the EPA Revision to OECD Imports and Exports Rule