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Canada publishes proposed amendments to cross-border movement of hazardous waste and recyclable material regulations

GATINEAU — Electrical and electronic waste, or e-waste, is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. E-waste contains substances of concern, such as mercury, lead, and brominated flame retardants that can adversely affect the environment and human health.

Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, published proposed amendments to Canada’s Cross-Border Movement of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations.

The current regulations only apply to a subset of hazardous e-waste. The proposed amendments would control transboundary movements (import, export, and transit) of all e-waste to all countries in order to align Canadian rules with recent amendments to the Basel Convention, an international agreement operating under the United Nations Environment Programme.

The proposed amendments would align with the Basel Ban requirement to prohibit most exports of hazardous wastes from member states of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, such as Canada and the European Union, to developing countries. These changes would place Canada in a position to ratify the Basel Ban Amendment to the Basel Convention.

The proposed amendments would also apply the Prior Informed Consent Procedure to all e waste shipments, as well as clarify certain implementation requirements of the regulations.
Stakeholders, interested parties, and Canadians are invited to review the proposed amendments and provide feedback before November 29. The Government plans to publish the final amendments in summer 2024.

“Hazardous waste and hazardous recyclable materials are harmful to the global environment and to human health. Canada is taking action to make sure that these materials, including e waste, are not sent to countries that do not want them, or that do not have the necessary infrastructure to deal with them in an environmentally sound manner,” said Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.