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   Chapter 20: Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous
   Wastes

GENERATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTES
Environmental Chapter 20 Driving Force

1. Indicator

(a) Name: Generation of hazardous wastes.
(b) Brief Definition: The total amount of hazardous wastes generated per year through industrial or other waste generating activities, according to the definition of hazardous waste as referred to in the Basel Convention and other related conventions (see sections 3(e) and 7 below). (c) Unit of Measurement: Metric tonnes or tonnes per unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

2. Placement in the Framework

(a) Agenda 21: Chapter 20: Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous Wastes, including Prevention of Illegal International Traffic in Hazardous Wastes.
(b) Type of Indicator: Driving Force.

3. Significance (Policy Relevance)

(a) Purpose: In the case of industrial wastes it provides a measure of the extent and type of industrialization in a country and in this connection industrial activities of using technologies and processes generating hazardous wastes.

(b) Relevance to Sustainable/Unsustainable Development: The generation of hazardous wastes has a direct impact on health and the environment through exposure to this kind of wastes. Normally, long term exposure is required before the manifestation of harmful effects. Reduced generation of hazardous wastes may indicate either reduced industrial activities in a country, introduction of cleaner production in the industrial processes, or changing patterns in consumers' habits, which implies savings in the use of energy and raw material as well as improving protection of landscapes. The introduction of environmentally sound management systems for hazardous wastes implies reduction of risks to health and environment due to lesser exposure to hazardous wastes.

If one studies the different categories of wastes being generated this provides an indication of the nature of industrial activities being undertaken in a country. In the case of other hazardous wastes such as hospital wastes it is first of all a measure of the size of population, and second, the percentage of this population being treated in hospitals and other medical care units.

(c) Linkages to Other Indicators: This indicator is linked to the amount of hazardous wastes exported or imported; as well as to the indicators on area of land contaminated by hazardous wastes, and expenditures on hazardous waste treatment or disposal.

(d) Targets: No quantitative targets exist at the international level. In Agenda 21, Chapter 20, an overall target of "preventing or minimizing the generation of hazardous wastes as part of an overall integrated cleaner production approach" is provided. Targets exist at the national level in many countries.

(e) International Conventions and Agreements: The following conventions and agreements pertain to this indicator: Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal; Bamako Convention on the Ban on the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement within Africa; Waigani Convention to Ban the Importation of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes into Forum Island Countries, and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region; Central American Agreement; Draft Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Council Decisions and ED Council Directives and Regulation on Waste and Hazardous Wastes.

4. Methodological Description and Underlying Definitions

(a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: In order to facilitate the definition of whether a waste, as defined under the Basel Convention, is hazardous or not, the Technical Working Group established under the Basel Convention has been mandated by the Conference of the Parties to undertake work on hazard characterization (Decision III/1 of the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties). In addition, the Technical Working Group is to develop lists of wastes which are always hazardous and, on the other hand, lists of wastes which are not subject of the Convention. This work, which is expected to be finalized in 1997, will facilitate decisions on priority wastes to be subject to cleaner production efforts or improved technological changes.

In relation to the definition of hazardous wastes under the Basel Convention (article 1 of the Convention), it should be noted that under article 3 of the Convention, Parties should inform the Secretariat of the Convention (SBC) of wastes, other than those listed in Annexes I and II of the Convention, considered as hazardous under national legislation. This is to enable all Parties to respect this designation in relation to planned transboundary movements involving such wastes.

(b) Measurement Methods: In relation to the Basel Convention, its Secretariat requests information from the Parties to the Convention on a yearly basis regarding the amount of hazardous wastes generated at the national level. This information is being introduced in the SBC data base, which includes data and information on hazardous wastes related issues in accordance with Articles 13 and 16 of the Convention. Other agencies, such as OECD, are also collecting information on hazardous wastes generated by OECD countries.

(c) The Indicator in the DSR Framework: Generation of hazardous wastes which is an indicator of the extent to which environmentally unsound technologies are being used in the production process. It also includes, through the definition of hazardous wastes, activities concerning international trade in such wastes for recovery or recycling operations. Thus, this indicator is a Driving Force in the DSR Framework. The impact of hazardous wastes can be measured by state indicators such as air and water pollution and contaminated soils. Response indicators, such as expenditures on hazardous wastes treatment or the introduction of cleaner technologies in industry, are of course directly related to protection of human health and the environment.

(d) Limitations of the Indicator: The present problem of defining whether a waste is hazardous or not will, in some cases, cause difficulties in relation to the use of amounts of hazardous wastes generated as a sustainable development indicator. The quantity of the hazardous wastes generated alone may not reflect changes towards a more "sustainable" society. Consideration of the nature of the different kinds of hazardous wastes generated would be a better indicator of sustainable development progress. Availability and accuracy of data represents another limitation of this indicator. Finally, the nature of the waste itself makes it sometimes difficult to use them as indicators because wastes are often mixed and not produced to specifications.

(e) Alternative Definitions: The amounts and type of specific waste streams generated per year through industrial or other waste generating activities as defined in the Basel Convention represents an alternative indicator which would allow for normalization based on relative toxicity.

5. Assessment of the Availability of Data from International and National Sources

(a) Data Needed to Compile the Indicator: Data on the generation of hazardous wastes.

(b) Data Availability: Data are available for many developed countries, but very few developing countries are collecting data on hazardous waste generation. The Parties of the Basel Convention are requested to provide data to the Secretariat of the Convention on a yearly basis.

Assistance to developing countries will be needed in identifying the main hazardous waste streams being generated in their countries in order to prepare and maintain inventories of hazardous wastes. In this connection difficulties may be encountered in relation to hazardous waste generation by small scale enterprises, since they are scattered and often operating on an informal basis and are therefore not registered. It may be less of a problem to identify amounts of hazardous waste generated by larger industries, since they are normally registered.

(c) Data Sources: The primary source of data at the international level is the SBC.

6. Agencies Involved in the Development of the Indicator

(a) Lead Agency: The lead agency is the Secretariat to the Basel Convention (SBC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The contact point is the Coordinator, SBC; fax no. (41 22) 797 3454.

(b) Other Organizations: Other organizations include: UNEP/IE, UNEP/IRPTC, ICRED, OECD, US Environmental Protection Agency, Switzerland, Institute for Applied Environmental Economics, the Netherlands, European Institute of Business Administration, France, Technical University, Graz, Austria, Wuppertal Institute, CEFIC, Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and Environment, Environment Canada.

7. Further Information

Basel Convention for the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.

Bamako Convention.

Waigani Convention.

Draft Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal.

Bakkes, J.A. et al. An Overview of Environmental Indicators: State of the Art and Perspectives. Environment Assessment Technical Reports. Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection in cooperation with the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. June 1994.

Reporting and Transmission of Information under the Basel Convention (UNEP/CHW.3/Inf.6), Section on Waste Generation, Tables 5 and 6.

 
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF HAZARDOUS WASTES
Environmental Chapter 20 Driving Force

1. Indicator

(a) Name: Imports and exports of hazardous wastes.
(b) Brief Definition: Total amounts of hazardous wastes subject to transboundary movements, including a breakdown of specific types of hazardous wastes according to definitions of the Basel Convention.
(c) Unit of Measurement: Metric tonnes.

2. Placement in the Framework

(a) Agenda 21: Chapter 20: Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous Wastes, including Prevention of Illegal International Traffic in Hazardous Wastes.
(b) Type of Indicator: Driving Force.

3. Significance (Policy Relevance)

(a) Purpose: the indicator shows the extent to which different categories of hazardous wastes are being exported or imported, as well as the countries involved in the transboundary movement.

(b) Relevance to Sustainable/Unsustainable Development:

This indicator is related to the amount of hazardous wastes being generated in a particular country, to the availability of disposal options in the country of export and import, and to the demand in the country of export or import to recycle and/or use the waste as secondary raw material. It provides a measure of current trade practices in hazardous wastes.

By treating hazardous wastes as close to source of generation as possible, the need for transboundary movements of such wastes is reduced, and harm to human health and the environment is minimized. In some cases transboundary movements may be necessary in order to ensure the environmentally sound treatment and disposal of such wastes. Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes may also be justified if such wastes are going to be used as secondary raw material or for energy recovery.

(c) Linkages to Other Indicators: This indicator is, of course, linked to the indicators on hazardous waste generation, and expenditures on hazardous waste treatment. It is also linked to

economic indicators, such as export and import of goods and services (which would include non-ferrous metals and precious metals), and GDP per capita.

(d) Targets: According to the Basel Convention, a decision was adopted at its second meeting of the Conference of the Parties (decision II/12) to ban transboundary movements of hazardous wastes from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries to non-OECD countries with immediate effect for disposal and for recycling as of 31 December 1997. As a follow-up, a decision was adopted at the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties (decision III/1) to amend the Convention to this effect. The Bamako Convention for Africa as well as the Waigani Convention for South Pacific already have provisions for a total ban of import of hazardous wastes into their respective regions. Under the Basel Convention, no specific targets have been set to control or reduce the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes.

(e) International Conventions and Agreements: The following conventions and agreements pertain to this indicator: Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal; Bamako Convention on the Ban on the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement within Africa (not yet in force); Waigani Convention to Ban the Importation of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes into Forum Island Countries, and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region (not yet in force); Central American Agreement; Draft Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (to be adopted April 1966); Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Council Decisions and ED Council Directives and Regulation on Waste and Hazardous Wastes.

4. Methodological Description and Underlying Definitions

(a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: Export or import of hazardous wastes is the total yearly quantity of hazardous waste subject to transboundary movement which takes place in accordance with the Basel Convention or any of the other legally binding instruments referred to in section 3e above, from (or to) one State to (or from) another, possibly passing through one or several transit States. It can also be the total yearly quantity of any specific category of hazardous wastes, subject to transboundary movements.

In order to facilitate the definition of whether a waste, as defined under the Basel Convention, is hazardous or not, the Technical Working Group established under the Basel Convention has been mandated by the Conference of the Parties to undertake work on hazard characterization (Decision III/1 of the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties). In addition, the Technical Working Group is to develop lists of wastes which are always hazardous and, on the other hand, lists of wastes which are not subject of the Convention. This work, which is expected to be finalized in 1997, will facilitate decisions on priority wastes to be subject to cleaner production efforts or improved technological changes.

(b) Measurement Methods: The Parties of the Basel Convention are requested to report on a yearly basis information regarding transboundary movements of hazardous wastes or other wastes in which they have been involved. The information should include the amount of hazardous wastes or other wastes exported or imported, their category characteristics, origin, destination, any transit country, and disposal methods for the wastes in question. This information is compiled and entered into a database by the Secretariat of the Convention, which analyzes the data and presents a compilation and summary of all information provided to the Conference of the Parties of the Basel Convention on a regular basis.

The amount of hazardous wastes exported has to be measured by the exporter, and entered into the appropriate place in the notification and movement documents, which have to be used for each case of a transboundary movement according to the provisions of Article 6 of the Convention.

(c) The Indicator in the DSR Framework: The movement of hazardous wastes represents a Driving Force indicator in the DSR Framework.

(d) Limitations of the Indicator: The present problem of defining whether a waste is hazardous or not will, in some cases, cause difficulties in relation to the use of amounts of hazardous wastes generated as a sustainable development indicator. The quantity of the hazardous wastes generated alone may not reflect changes towards a more "sustainable" society. Consideration of the nature of the different kinds of hazardous wastes generated would be a better indicator of sustainable development progress. Availability, accuracy, and harmonization of data represent other limitations of this indicator. Finally, the nature of the waste itself makes it sometimes difficult to use them as indicators because wastes are often mixed and not produced to specifications. Additional limitations relate to the existence of illegal traffic in hazardous wastes.

(e) Alternative Definitions: The amount of exports in proportion to the total hazardous waste generated, and the relationship between imports and the treatment capacity of a country represent two possible supplementary indicators.

5. Assessment of the Availability of Data from International and National Sources

(a) Data Needed to Compile the Indicator: Information on the amounts, categories and characteristics of each type of hazardous wastes or other wastes being exported and/or imported for each case of transboundary movement.

(b) Data Availability: It should be possible to obtain data regularly, provided that a notification form has been used for each transboundary movement and the government has a procedure to record and monitor this data on a continuous basis at the national level. This is

normally the case for developed countries which are Parties to the Basel Convention. However, many developing countries have no such procedure in place at this time.

(c) Data Sources: In the case of the Basel Convention, each Party is obliged under Article 5 to designate a competent authority and a focal point. The competent authority is the entity in the government which should receive the notification of a transboundary movement of hazardous wastes or other wastes, and the focal point should receive and submit information as provided for in Articles 13 and 16, including information on export and import of hazardous wastes.

6. Agencies Involved in the Development of the Indicator

(a) Lead Agency: The lead agency is the Secretariat to the Basel Convention (SBC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The contact point is the Coordinator, SBC; fax no. (41 22) 797 3454.

(b) Other Organizations: Other organizations include: UNEP/IE, UNEP/IRPTC, ICRED, OECD, US Environmental Protection Agency, Switzerland, Institute for Applied Environmental Economics, the Netherlands, European Institute of Business Administration, France, Technical University, Graz, Austria, Wuppertal Institute, CEFIC, Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and Environment, Environment Canada.

7. Further Information

(a) Further Readings:

Basel Convention for the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.

Bamako Convention.

Waigani Convention.

Bakkes, J.A. et al. An Overview of Environmental Indicators: State of the Art and Perspectives. Environment Assessment Technical Reports. Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection in cooperation with the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. June 1994.

Reporting and Transmission of Information under the Basel Convention (UNEP/CHW.3/Inf.6), Section on Waste Generation, Tables 5 and 6.

(b) Status of the Methodology:

The methodology agreed under the Basel Convention is the obligation: (i) to use the notification and movement document by the exporter of hazardous wastes and other wastes; and (ii) that the government designated focal point report on the amounts of hazardous wastes exported and imported to the Secretariat of the Basel Convention on a yearly basis.

 
AREA OF LAND CONTAMINATED WITH HAZARDOUS WASTES
Environmental Chapter 20 State

1. Indicator

(a) Name: Area of land contaminated by hazardous wastes.
(b) Brief Definition: The area of contaminated and clean-up sites and/or land in a country as result of pollution and/or emissions or illegal dumping of hazardous wastes in unprotected or unsuitable sites/land areas, where no appropriate measures have been taken to prevent harm to human health and the environment due to exposure of hazardous wastes.
(c) Unit of Measurement: Km2.

2. Placement in the Framework

(a) Agenda 21: Chapter 20: Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous Wastes, including Prevention of Illegal International Traffic in Hazardous Wastes.
(b) Type of Indicator: State.

3. Significance (Policy Relevance)

(a) Purpose: This indicator can be used to assess current threats to human health and the environment, to detect trends in land pollution due to unsound hazardous waste management practices or illegal dumping and to assess risks from contaminated sites and set up priorities for decontamination and/or clean-up.

(b) Relevance to Sustainable/Unsustainable Development: Contaminated land is a sign of unsustainable development. Decreases in the area of contaminated land represents a trend towards sustainable development, since it diminishes the risks of exposure to hazardous wastes causing harmful effects on human health and the environment. To achieve this and to prevent future contamination of land by hazardous wastes as far as possible, the management of these wastes should be improved including introduction of cleaner production processes in industries and the prevention of spills and misuse of pesticides and fuels in agriculture. The impact by contaminated lands has a negative effect on human health and the environment, either by causing toxic emissions from the sites affecting nearby populations, or by absorption of toxic substances into the environment.

(c) Linkages to Other Indicators: This indicator is directly related to the ones on hazardous waste generation, expenditures on hazardous waste treatment, and export and import of hazardous wastes. It is also closely connected with the following indicators: use of agriculture pesticides, use of fertilizers, arable land per capita, area of land reclaimed, and land condition change.

(d) Targets: No specific targets relate to this indicator. However, the targets set in other areas of Agenda 21 have bearing on the amount of contaminated land. Chapter 14, for example, calls for mechanisms to control the distribution and use of pesticides by the year 2000. Such objectives could contribute to decreases in the area of contaminated land.

(e) International Conventions and Agreements: The following conventions and agreements pertain to this indicator: Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal; Bamako Convention on the Ban on the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement within Africa; Waigani Convention to Ban the Importation of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes into Forum Island Countries, and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region; Central American Agreement; Draft Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Council Decisions, ED Council Directives and Regulation on Waste and Hazardous Wastes, ACP/Lome Convention, and International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and use of Pesticides.

4. Methodological Description and Underlying Definitions

(a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: The indicator to be measured includes land contamination due to lack of environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes generated through industrial or other waste generating activities (for example, from military establishments), illegal dumping, and/or through contamination in relation to accidents involving hazardous wastes. The definition of hazardous wastes for this indicator should follow those stipulated by the provisions of the Basel Convention. In order to use this indicator in a meaningful way, there is a need to develop criteria for a more precise definition of contaminated lands, by taking into account concentration levels of specific hazardous waste constituents and also considering what type of land is contaminated, whether arable land, land located in protected areas, land close to human habitats, soil conditions, degree of contamination, as well as size and depth of contamination.

(b) Measurement Methods: The indicator should be measured in km2.

(c) The Indicator in the DSR Framework: The area of land contaminated by hazardous wastes is an indicator on the lack of environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes. It also shows a lack of appropriate control and enforcement mechanisms to prevent, for instance, illegal dumping, accidents involving hazardous wastes; or insufficient capacity to manage such wastes. The indicator is a measure of State in the DSR Framework.

(d) Limitations of the Indicator: The indicator needs to be further developed in terms of the classification of contaminated land in order to become as useful as possible (see section 4a above). Land tenure aspects are critical; radioactive contamination is an important consideration in the case of mixed contamination which could, in particular, be relevant to military sites.

(e) Alternative Definitions: Measurement by land type would provide additional meaning to this indicator. However, the data are probably not available in many countries. For contamination of running waters or fragile ecosystem, other measures may be required.

5. Assessment of the Availability of Data from International and National Sources

(a) Data Needed to Compile the Indicator: data on types and concentrations of specific waste constituents; data and information on type of contaminated land (arable land, protected area, land close to human settlements, etc.); sources of contamination; number of contaminated sites/land areas per country and also number per critical area; number of sites cleaned-up per year; and area of each contaminated site/land.

(b) Data Availability: No regular data collection is being undertaken. However, data are available for some, mainly developed countries.

(c) Data Sources: Data may be available in some countries from government ministries in charge of agriculture, land-use, planning and/or environment, and the military. International organizations such as the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Soil Reference and Information Center (ISRIC), World Resources Institute, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are potential data sources..

6. Agencies Involved in the Development of the Indicator

(a) Lead Agency: The lead agency is the Secretariat to the Basel Convention (SBC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The contact point is the Coordinator, SBC; fax no. (41 22) 797 3454.

(b) Other Organizations: Other organizations include: FAO, UNEP, ISRIC, World Resources Institute, and OECD. Countries with experience in this area include: Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the USA.

7. Further Information

Basel Convention for the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal; Bamako Convention; and Waigani Convention.

 
EXPENDITURE ON HAZARDOUS WASTE TREATMENT
Environmental Chapter 20 Response

1. Indicator

(a) Name: Expenditure on hazardous waste treatment.
(b) Brief Definition: Total expenditures by government institutions, state-owned enterprises, municipalities, or by the private sector on treatment of all hazardous wastes indicating breakdown of total costs for each type of hazardous wastes according to definitions in the Basel Convention. Treatment includes some disposal operations as described in the Basel Convention.
(c) Unit of Measurement: $US.

2. Placement in the Framework

(a) Agenda 21: Chapter 20: Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous Wastes, including Prevention of Illegal International Traffic in Hazardous Wastes.
(b) Type of Indicator: Response.

3. Significance (Policy Relevance)

(a) Purpose: This indicator represents the commitment by all levels of government and the private sector to minimize risks posed to human health and the environment by exposure to hazardous wastes.

(b) Relevance to Sustainable/Unsustainable Development: Increase in expenditures inhazardous waste treatment may indicate an increased concern by government and the private-sector to reduce threats of exposure to hazardous wastes. The expenditures may result from the setting of environmental standards, introduction of legislative and non-regulatory measures such as economic incentives/disincentives, voluntary plans, enforcement, and capacity building programmes. The level of expenditures in treatment of hazardous wastes by government, municipal, and the private sector could also reflect on the efforts of other stakeholders like the academic sector and non-government organizations (NGOs) which can devote important human and financial resources to the implementation of research and development projects, assessment of community case issues, and public awareness campaigns.

Care must be taken in the interpretation of the indicator. The indicator may also indicate an increased generation or importation of hazardous wastes at the national level. In addition, a decrease in expenditure on hazardous waste treatment could be the result of the introduction of waste minimization practices in the production process, decreases in the manufacture of goods

which generate hazardous wastes due to economic recession, or the shifting of public and private sector expenditures to other priority areas.

(c) Linkages to Other Indicators: This indicator is directly linked to the one on hazardous waste generation, and to a lesser extent to the indicator on import and export of hazardous wastes. It is also directly related to the indicators on environmental protection expenditure as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

(d) Targets: No international targets exist. National targets may exist in some member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), particularly in order to promote waste minimization efforts by industry.

(e) International Conventions and Agreements: The following conventions and agreements pertain to this indicator: Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal; Bamako Convention on the Ban on the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement within Africa; Waigani Convention to Ban the Importation of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes into Forum Island Countries, and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region; Central American Agreement; Draft Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Council Decisions and ED Council Directives and Regulation on Waste and Hazardous Wastes.

4. Methodological Description and Underlying Definitions

(a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: There is a need to work further on this indicator and consider whether it would not be more useful to measure it as an expenditure in relation to the amount of hazardous waste generated or as a percentage of the GDP. There is also a need to identify the kind of treatment methods which are included for the use of this indicator, for example, disposal operations. Such operations would include expenditure related to resource recovery, recycling, reclamation, reuse or alternative uses (such as, incineration, biological treatment, landfill, physical-chemical treatment, etc.).

(b) Measurement Methods: Expenditures incurred by government agencies, municipalities, and private sector enterprises designed for hazardous waste treatment could relatively easily be measured by calculating all related costs for treatment of the wastes. The costs, however, incurred for the treatment of hazardous wastes generated in the production process within a company are more difficult to estimate, since these costs would be considered as part of the general operational costs of the company.

The calculation of costs of treatment of hazardous wastes in real terms is difficult, however, because of the complexity of the relationships with other socioeconomic parameters that could be specific to the country.

(c) The Indicator in the DSR Framework: This indicator can be used to assess the effort to develop and manage hazardous waste management strategies, including the introduction of cleaner production and other waste minimization measures as part of the life cycle approach. It can also be used for the identification of priority waste streams to be subject to waste minimization efforts in order to promote maximum cost efficiency in waste treatment. Furthermore, it can be used to measure progress in the implementation of hazardous waste management strategies both at the national level and at the level of individual industries or industry sectors. The indicator reflects a State measure in the DSR Framework.

(d) Limitations of the Indicator: As mentioned above, the indicator needs to be further developed especially with regard to the definition of the kind of treatment methods to be included. Illegal traffic of hazardous wastes as a result of high disposal/treatment costs need to be considered, but are difficult to quantify.

The indicator is further limited by the fact that the policies of treatment of hazardous wastes are also influenced by parameters other than expenditures. Finally, depending on their legal status, private, semi-private, state-owned companies may be reluctant to reveal costs for treatment of hazardous wastes. Such enterprises could, however, be required to estimate and provide information of such costs.

(e) Alternative Definitions: It could be more useful to measure the indicator using $US per 1,000 tonnes of hazardous waste generated, or as a percentage of the GDP. However, more development work is required (see section 4a above).

The use of the indicator would be optimized by referring to specific waste streams, recognized treatment methods, and levels of technology and management practices. Relationships between political, legal, economic and social parameters for different levels of development would be required in order to use the indicator in a uniform manner. By giving a more precise definition, it would be easier to compare data between different types of waste generated in a particular country and also to facilitate comparison of treatment costs with other countries.

5. Assessment of the Availability of the Data from International and National Sources

(a) Data Needed to Compile the Indicator: There is a need to identify and agree upon which costs are related to the treatment of hazardous wastes such as investment in infrastructure including site, buildings and hardware; salaries for operation of facilities; chemicals and other products required for treatment; maintenance; etc. Other actual costs to consider in relation to treatment are transportation costs to bring the waste to the site for treatment and, if applicable, transportation after treatment to, for example, a landfill or any other disposal site.

(b) Data Availability: Data may be available in several OECD countries, but most probably not on a comprehensive basis and particularly not from individual manufacturers who treat the wastes they generate themselves. Data from non-OECD countries may be available only if specific hazardous waste treatment facilities are provided by the government or by the private sector. No data are regularly collected at present on a global or regional level, for example through the activities of the Basel Convention.

(c) Data Sources: Potential data sources include government agencies, commercial private sector facilities, specific industrial sectors, or individual industries.

6. Agencies Involved in the Development of the Indicator

(a) Lead Agency: The lead agency is the Secretariat to the Basel Convention (SBC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The contact point is the Coordinator, SBC; fax no. (41 22) 797 3454.

(b) Other Organizations: Other organizations include: UNEP, the European Community, and OECD. Countries with experience in this area include: Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the USA. Industry associations would also be able to contribute to the development of this indicator.

7. Further Information

Bakkes, J.A. et al. An Overview of Environmental Indicators: State of the Art and Perspectives. Environment Assessment Technical Reports. Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection in cooperation with the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. June 1994.

Reporting and Transmission of Information under the Basel Convention (UNEP/CHW.3/Inf.6), Section on Waste Generation, Tables 5 and 6. 

 

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15 December 2004