Over a billion waste tyres are generated annually. Their environmentally sound management is essential to protect human health and the environment from potential harmful effects.
The Basel Convention defines "environmentally sound management (ESM)” of wastes subject to its control as taking all practicable steps to ensure that these wastes are managed in a manner which will protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects which may result from such wastes. Technical guidelines are developed under the Basel Convention for the environmentally sound management of the wastes falling under its scope. Technical guidelines provide for the foundation upon which countries can operate at a standard that is not less environmentally sound than that required by the Basel Convention.
Technical guidelines on the identification and management of used tyres were adopted by the Conference of Parties to the Convention in 2000 (decision V/26). An updated version (available here), taking into account additional knowledge and experience in handling used and waste pneumatic tyres gained in many countries and technological, economic and environmental factors broader than those discussed in the original version of the guidelines, was adopted in 2011 (decision BC-10/6).
At its fifteenth meeting, by decision BC-15/15, the COP decided to update these technical guidelines. For more information on related activities please refer to the Technical Guidelines.
A small intersessional working group was established by COP for the updating of the technical guidelines. Information on the activities of the working group is available here.
Queries should be sent to Ms. Melisa Lim, Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions (Email: [email protected]).