India: Dumping Ground for Developed Countries?
India: Dumping Ground For Developed Countries? By Chaitanya Gaikwad M.Sc. Environmental Science
Paper presented at Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI), Pune, India
Basel Convention
Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous wastes and their Disposal
In the late 1980s, a tightening of environmental regulations in industrialized countries led to a dramatic rise in the cost of hazardous waste disposal. Searching for cheaper ways to get rid of the wastes, “toxic traders” began shipping hazardous waste to developing countries and to Eastern Europe. When this activity was revealed, international outrage led to the drafting and adoption of the Basel Convention. During its first Decade (1989-1999), the Convention was principally devoted to setting up a framework for controlling the “transboundary” movements of hazardous wastes, that is, the movement of hazardous wastes across international frontiers. It also developed the criteria for “environmentally sound management”. A Control System, based on prior written notification, was also put into place.
Supreme Court verdict
The Delhi High Court imposed a ban on the import of all toxic/hazardous wastes in 1996. Yet research by NGOs reveal that the waste still continues to come in, despite the a renewed ban issued by the Supreme Court of India. Owing to industry pressure, Indian Government has been vacillating on stricter enforcement.
“Export” by developed countries
Developed countries of world such as Australia, United States etc. are exporting their hazardous and toxic waste to the developing countries like India under the name of recycle. Many times the hazardous nature of material is not This is the clear example of “not in my back yard” attitude. Though the export is done under the name of recycle these wastes are not recycled properly once they reach their destinations. India is becoming dumping ground of developed counties. The workers in the so-called recycling
Paper presented at Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI), Pune, India
Basel Convention
Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous wastes and their Disposal
In the late 1980s, a tightening of environmental regulations in industrialized countries led to a dramatic rise in the cost of hazardous waste disposal. Searching for cheaper ways to get rid of the wastes, “toxic traders” began shipping hazardous waste to developing countries and to Eastern Europe. When this activity was revealed, international outrage led to the drafting and adoption of the Basel Convention. During its first Decade (1989-1999), the Convention was principally devoted to setting up a framework for controlling the “transboundary” movements of hazardous wastes, that is, the movement of hazardous wastes across international frontiers. It also developed the criteria for “environmentally sound management”. A Control System, based on prior written notification, was also put into place.
Supreme Court verdict
The Delhi High Court imposed a ban on the import of all toxic/hazardous wastes in 1996. Yet research by NGOs reveal that the waste still continues to come in, despite the a renewed ban issued by the Supreme Court of India. Owing to industry pressure, Indian Government has been vacillating on stricter enforcement.
“Export” by developed countries
Developed countries of world such as Australia, United States etc. are exporting their hazardous and toxic waste to the developing countries like India under the name of recycle. Many times the hazardous nature of material is not This is the clear example of “not in my back yard” attitude. Though the export is done under the name of recycle these wastes are not recycled properly once they reach their destinations. India is becoming dumping ground of developed counties. The workers in the so-called recycling