First meeting of the Basel Convention Plastic Waste Partnership working group

I. Introduction

1. At its fourteenth meeting, held from 29 April to 10 May 2019, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal adopted decision BC-14/13 on further actions to address plastic waste under the Basel Convention. In section VI of decision BC-14/13, the COP, among other things, welcomed the proposal to establish a Basel Convention Partnership on Plastic Waste, decided to establish a working group of the Partnership, adopted the terms of reference of the Partnership and requested the working group to implement its workplan for the biennium 2020-2021. The terms of reference stipulate that the working group is, among other things, responsible for preparing appropriate and sustainable financial arrangement proposals for the Partnership.

I. Background

1. The co-chairs of the Plastic Waste Partnership (PWP) working group, Mr. Ross Bartley and Mr. Ole Thomas Thommesen, submit this report for consideration by the working group at its first meeting. It was prepared with the assistance of the Secretariat of the Basel Convention.

I. Introduction

1. At its fourteenth meeting, held from 29 April to 10 May 2019, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal adopted decision BC-14/13 on further actions to address plastic waste under the Basel Convention. In section VI of decision BC-13/14, the COP, among other things, welcomed the proposal to establish a Basel Convention Partnership on Plastic Waste, decided to establish a working group of the Partnership, adopted the terms of reference of the Partnership and requested the working group to implement its workplan for the biennium 2020-2021.

I. Opening of the meeting

1. The first meeting of the working group of the Basel Convention Partnership on Plastic Waste was held in Beau Vallon, Seychelles, from 2 to 5 March 2020.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present scenario note supplements the information provided in the provisional agenda (UNEP/CHW/PWPWG.1/1) and tentative schedule (UNEP/CHW/PWPWG.1/INF/2) for the first meeting of the Plastic Waste Partnership working group. The purpose of this scenario note is to provide an indication of the discussions expected to take place under each agenda item and to highlight potential outcomes. This document was prepared in consultation with the co-chairs of the working group.

Note by the Secretariat

A tentative schedule for the work of the first meeting of the Plastic Waste Partnership working group is set out in the annex to the present note. The schedule will be adapted as work progresses. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The purpose of this document is to update the working group on the current status and composition of its membership, in addition to outlining the process for admitting new members and the consent procedure for confirmation of new members by the working group.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the scenario note for the first meeting of the Plastic Waste Partnership working group (UNEP/CHW/PWPWG.1/INF/1), the annex to the present note sets out a baseline report on plastic waste. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the scenario note for the first meeting of the Plastic Waste Partnership working group (UNEP/CHW/PWPWG.1/INF/1), the annex to the present note sets out a stocktaking of initiatives on plastic waste. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. At its fourteenth meeting, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Basel Convention adopted decision BC-14/13 on further actions to address plastic waste under the Basel Convention. In paragraphs 23-25 of section VI of the decision, the COP welcomed the proposal to establish a Basel Convention Partnership on Plastic Waste; decided to establish a working group of the Basel Convention Partnership on Plastic Waste; and adopted the terms of reference of the Partnership . Section VIII of the terms of reference stipulates that the working group may establish project groups.

Note by the Secretariat

Annex to the present note sets out a template for each project group to develop a workplan according to which it will progress its work over the biennium 2020-2021. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As referred to in document UNEP/CHW/PWPWG.1/3, in their proposal on the working modalities of the Plastic Waste Partnership (PWP) working group and activities to be undertaken in preparation of its first meeting, which was introduced during the first online consultation of the PWP working group held on 13 November 2019, the co-chairs of the working group invited members of the working group to submit, among other things, their views on the activities (including possible pilot projects) that could be undertaken by project groups as a priority during the biennium 2020-2021. The views on possible activities and pilot projects that were provided in 12 of the submissions received by the Secretariat are compiled in the annexes to the present note.