Work programme of the Open-ended Working Group for the biennium 2020–2021

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Topics

Activities

Mandate

Priority

I. Strategic issues

A. Strategic framework

Consider a draft report on the final evaluation of the strategic framework for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its fifteenth meeting.

Decision BC-14/1

High

B. Development of guidelines for environmentally sound management

Consider the revised version of the draft practical manual for stakeholders to ensure that notifications of transboundary movements meet environmentally sound management requirements, taking into account the comments from Parties and others.

Decision BC-14/3

High

II. Scientific and technical matters

A. Technical guidelines

1. Consider comments and information relating to the review of provisional low persistent organic pollutant content values in the general technical guidelines referred to in decision BC‑14/4 and other technical guidelines, as appropriate.

Decision BC-14/4

High

2. Update the general technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants and update specific technical guidelines with regard to the chemicals listed in Annex A to the Stockholm Convention by decisions SC-9/11 and SC-9/12 of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention and to the amendment, by decision SC-9/4, of the listing of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) in Annex B to the Stockholm Convention, including the following:

(a)                Establishment of levels of destruction and irreversible transformation for the chemicals necessary to ensure that when disposed of they do not exhibit the characteristics of persistent organic pollutants specified in paragraph 1 of Annex D to the Stockholm Convention;

(b)               Determination of which disposal methods constitute environmentally sound disposal as referred to in paragraph 1 (d) (ii) of Article 6 of the Stockholm Convention;

(c)                Establishment, as appropriate, of the concentration levels of the chemicals in order to define for them low persistent organic pollutant content as referred to in paragraph 1 (d) (ii) of Article 6 of the Stockholm Convention.

Decision BC-14/4

High

 

3. Consider comments and information relating to the use and testing, on a pilot basis, of the technical guidelines on transboundary movements of electrical and electronic waste and used electrical and electronic equipment, and the results of these activities.

4. Consider the draft updated technical guidelines on incineration on land (D10) with an extended scope to also address incineration as covered by the operation “use as a fuel (other than in direct incineration) or other means to generate energy” (R1), and the draft updated technical guidelines on specially engineered landfill (D5).

Decision BC-14/5

 

 

 

 

 

Decision BC-14/6

High

 

 

 

 

 

High

 

5. Consider whether the draft updated technical guidelines on hazardous waste physico-chemical treatment (D9) and biological treatment (D8) should be updated.

6. Consider the draft updated technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with mercury or mercury compounds.

7. Consider whether the technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of waste lead-acid batteries referred to in decision VI/22 should be updated.

8. Consider the draft updated technical guidelines for the identification and environmentally sound management of plastic wastes and for their disposal.

OEWG-11/15

 

 

 

Decision BC-14/8

 

 

 

Decision BC-14/7

 

 

 

Decision BC-14/13

Medium

 

 

 

 

High

 

 

 

Medium

 

 

 

High

B. National reporting

Consider the draft practical guidance on the development of inventories for the waste streams as set out in decision BC‑14/10.

Decision BC-14/10

High

C. Electronic approaches to the notification and movement documents

Consider progress made on the activities pertaining to an electronic system for the notification and movement of hazardous and other wastes, set out in decision BC-14/11.

Decision BC-14/11

Medium

D. Plastic waste

1. Consider whether, how and when the Conference of the Parties should assess the effectiveness of the measures taken under the Convention to address the plastic waste contributing to marine plastic litter and microplastics.

2. Consider which further activities could possibly be conducted under the Convention in response to developments in scientific knowledge and environmental information related to plastic waste as a source of land pollution, marine plastic litter and microplastics.

Decision BC-14/13

 

 

 

 

Decision BC-14/13

High

 

 

 

 

High

E. Waste containing nanomaterials

Consider information related to activities aimed at addressing issues related to waste containing nanomaterials.

Decision BC-14/14

Medium

F. Amendments to the annexes to the Basel Convention

Consider and review any applications for changes and any corrections to the lists of wastes contained in Annexes VIII and IX to the Basel Convention.

Decision VIII/15

High

III. Legal, governance and enforcement matters

A. Consultation with the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance

1. Consult with the Committee towards the finalization of the guidance to improve the implementation of paragraph 11 of Article 6 of the Convention, on insurance, bond and guarantee.[1]

2. Consult with the Committee towards the finalization of guidance on the implementation of paragraph 4 of Article 6 of the Convention on transit transboundary movements.[2]

Decision BC-14/15

 

 

 

Decision BC-14/15

High

 

 

 

High

B. Providing further legal clarity

1. Consider the proposals for amendments to annexes IV, VIII (A1180) and IX (B1110) prepared by the expert working group on the review of Annexes I, III and IV and related aspects of Annexes VIII and IX.

2. Consider the findings of the expert working group on the review of Annexes I, III and IV and related aspects of Annexes VIII and IX on the possible consequential implications of the review of Annex IV for other annexes of the Convention and for relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties, including, inter alia, for the notification and movement documents and the reporting format.

3. Consider the findings of the expert working group on the review of Annexes I, III and IV and related aspects of Annexes VIII and IX to the Basel Convention to consider, as part of its mandate, whether any additional constituents or characteristics in relation to plastic waste should be added to Annex I or III, respectively, to the Convention.

Decision BC-14/16

 

 

 

Decision BC-14/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decision BC-14/13

High

 

 

 

 

High

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medium

C. National legislation, notifications, enforcement of the Convention and efforts to combat illegal traffic

Consider whether a common interpretation of the meaning of “State of transit” may be agreed upon.

Decision BC-14/17

Medium

IV. International cooperation and coordination

A. Basel Convention Partnership Programme

1. Adopt, on behalf of the Conference of the Parties, the terms of reference and programme of work of the follow‑up partnership to the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment.

2. Consider progress in the implementation of the priority activities of the work programme of the working group of the follow-up partnership to the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment.

3. Consider the revised draft of the overall guidance document on the environmentally sound management of household waste and progress made in the implementation of the workplan of the working group of the Household Waste Partnership for the biennium 2020–2021.

4. Consider progress made and provide guidance on the implementation of the workplan of the Partnership on Plastic Waste for the biennium 2020–2021.

Decision BC-14/19

 

 

 

Decision BC-14/19

 

 

Decision BC-14/19

 

 

 

 

 

Decision BC-14/13

High

 

 

 

High

 

 

 

 

 

High

 

 

 

 

 

High

B. Cooperation with the World Customs Organization on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System

Consider progress made with regard to the inclusion of Basel Convention wastes in the World Customs Organization Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System.

Decision BC-14/9

High