ESM of Biomedical and Infectious Wastes Under the Basel Convention Ibrahim Shafii Secretariat of the Basel Convention

Contents of the Presentation Classification of biomedical and infections wastes in Basel Convention Basel Convention Work Programme on biomedical and infectious wastes: >Hazard characteristics H6.2 >Technical guidelines on Y1; Y3

Hazardous Wastes Controlled by the Basel Convention Annexes I, VIII and IX, exhibiting Annex III characteristics (Art. 1(1)(a) of Annex I) Annex II (Art. 1(2)) Wastes considered hazardous under the national legislation of a Party, as notified to the Secretariat under Article 3 (Art. 1(1)(b)) (This information may be accessed at the Secretariat’s website: www.basel.int/natdef/frsetmain.php)

Environmentally Sound Management Central Policy instrument is Environmentally Sound Management (ESM): “taking all practicable steps to ensure that hazardous wastes or other wastes are managed in a manner which will protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects which may result from such wastes” ESM includes minimizing the generation of such wastes, reducing transboundary movements, improving treatment and disposal, and ensuring such wastes are handled as close as possible to where they were generated

Classification of biomedical and infections wastes in the Basel Convention Annex I Y1 – Clinical wastes from medical care in hospitals, medical centres and clinics Y3 – Waste pharmaceuticals, drugs and medicines Annex III H 6.2 – Infectious substances

Classification of medical waste in the Basel Convention Annex VIII (List A) A4020 – Clinical and related wastes; that is wastes arising from medical, nursing, dental, veterinary, or similar practices, and wastes generated in hospitals or other facilities during the investigation or treatment of patients, or research projects A4140 – Waste consisting of or containing off-specification or outdated chemicals corresponding to Annex I categories

Basel Convention Work Programme on Biomedical and Infectious Wastes Development of guidance document on hazard characterstics H6.2 Development of technical guidelines on the ESM of biomedical and heathcare wastes (Y1; Y3)

Hazard characteristics H6.2 COP4: mandated the development of guidance document on hazard characterstics H6.2 (infectious substances) United Kingdom lead the work on H6.2 Guidance paper was adopted on an interim basis by COP7 (Oct. 2004)

Hazard characteristics H6.2 Annex III describes H6.2: Substances or wastes containing viable microorganisms or their toxins which are known or suspected to cause disease in animals or humans

Hazard characteristics H6.2 Contents of guidance paper: Purpose and scope Background Infectiousness and intrinsic properties of BC hazard characteristics Risk assessment approach Criterion for determination by non-test risk assessment method Relationship with transport regulations Wastes to which H6.2 might apply Consideration of regional variations When analysis is needed

Technical Guidelines on ESM of Biomedical and Healthcare Waste COP4: mandated the development of technical guidelines on biomedical and healthcare wastes COP6: technical guidelines adopted

Technical Guidelines on ESM of Biomedical and Healthcare Waste Contents of TG: Purpose and scope General definitions of biomedical and healthcare wastes Hazards of biomedical and healthcare wastes Field of application/source indentification Waste identification and classification/waste groups Applicable state of the art management, treatment and disposal technologies Waste management auditing Capacity building

Other related work: COP Mandates on Mercury Decision VIII/33 of COP8 Adopted the programme and budget for 2007-2008 and agreed to include a new Strategic Plan focus area on mercury Agreed that in cooperation with UNEP to develop partnerships around the theme of environmentally friendly technologies and awareness raising regarding avoidance, use and disposal of mercury wastes; develop capacity building and technical assistance programmes to reduce and prevent pollution from mercury; and to develop guidelines on ESM of mecury waste with emphasis on sound disposal and remediation practices.

FURTHER INFORMATION Secretariat of the Basel Convention International Environment House 15 Chemin des Anemones Chatelaine CH-1219 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND Website: www.basel.int E-mail: ibrahim.shafii@unep.ch