Awareness raising materials and outreach

This section compiles resources developed that focus on sharing information and research about plastic waste management, especially in the context of technical assistance projects that have been delivered by the BRS Secretariat.

Addressing plastic pollution under the Basel Convention 

Explore the role of the Basel Convention – currently the only global, legally binding instrument that specifically addresses plastic waste - in addressing plastic pollution. In 2019, the Conference of the Parties adopted the Plastic Waste Amendments, clarifying which types of plastic waste are subject to the control procedure for exports, transit and imports.
Find out more information on the Plastic Waste Amendments under the Basel Convention in controlling transboundary movements, advancing environmentally sound management, and promoting prevention and minimization of the generation of plastic waste.

The plastic waste crisis requires both global action and initiatives at the local level. These videos spotlight the inspiring outcomes of three pilot projects implemented in Galle City, Sri Lanka.

• In schools, children, teachers and parents joined forces to sample microplastics in water, clean beaches, organize video competitions and create artworks from plastic waste.
• In tourism, three hotels developed action plans to reduce single-use plastics and installed special filters in their washing machines to capture microfibers.
• In fishing communities, fishermen teamed up with volunteers to collect and repair waste fishing nets for reuse in the fishing and agriculture sectors, ensuring unrepaired nets were responsibly disposed of.

A series of factsheets have been developed showcasing many of the projects implemented under the SGP on plastic waste.

BCRC Argentina's project in Argentina		BCRC Caribbean's project in Surname		BCRC China's project in Cambodia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka
BCRC Egypt's project in Jordan		BCRC Nigeria's project in Nigeria		BCRC Panama's project in Honduras, Guatemala and Panama
BCRC Senegal's project in Niger		BCRC Senegal's project in Rwanda		BCRC Slovakia's project in Albania, Belarus, B&H, Georgia, Moldova and NM
BCRC Slovakia's project in Albania

Compilation of information, best practices and lessons learned on measures taken by key stakeholders to prevent and reduce single use plastic waste and packaging waste

This compilation has been approved by the working group of the Plastic Waste Partnership of the Basel Convention. It is intended to assist Parties to the Basel Convention, authorities, stakeholders, and the public in the environmentally sound management of plastic wastes. It does not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the working group members on all the details of its content. This compilation should not be understood as derogating from the text of the Basel Convention or any decision(s) adopted by the Conference of the Parties and is without prejudice to the views of individual Parties. The information presented therein is current at the time of writing. The working group reserves the right to revise this content at any given time.

Drowning in Plastics – Marine Litter and Plastic Waste Vital Graphics

Drowning in Plastics – Marine Litter and Plastic Waste Vital Graphics provides a complete overview of the global challenges related to marine litter and plastic waste, using graphic illustrations accompanied by condensed descriptions of key thematic areas. It describes challenges and possible solutions across the waste hierarchy. Drowning in Plastics also provides an overview of challenges and solutions related to bioplastics, and waste management in developing countries, as well as challenges and opportunities regarding gender aspects of waste management. Moreover, the reader will find an overview of governance and policy solutions covering the Basel Convention, national policies, global responses through the United Nations Environment Assembly, other global and regional initiatives, monitoring and assessment components, and broader systemic perspectives. This publication was developed as a collaborative effort between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and GRID-Arendal.

Additional outreach publications

How the COVID-19 pandemic affects plastic waste and the Basel Convention		1. An introduction to the global plastic waste crisis		2. Environmentally sound management of plastic waste
3. Control of transboundary movements of plastic wastes		4. Plastic waste prevention and minimization		5. Plastic additives
Actions to address Plastic Waste		Plastic Waste Partnership		Marine plastic litter and microplastics
Tackling plastic waste in Ghana and Sri Lanka		How could the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions contribute to the new global treaty on Plastic Pollution
Municipal waste management in Geneva		PET - The pathway of your (recyclable) plastic bottle