Hazardous Waste Dumps Research Articles

Hazardous Waste Dump: A Recycling Process on the Globe Using Social Media

As the old saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. And that line applies to more than just antique sales. A lot of people don’t know about the value of scrap things – something that’s too often treated as trash to be disposed of, even though its value to recyclers is high. And there’s a strong push globally to promote, encourage and expand scarp recycling opportunities. There's a strong environmental lesson in doing so many of them not aware of the effect of scarp things like plastic, metal, glass etc. which contains toxins that pose dangers to the soil and groundwater when they’re dumped in community landfills. The alternative way is to make use of scrap things that can be successfully recycled and used to make new products Keywords: Recycle, Scrap, Waste, Environment, QR,

Socio-Economic Challenges of Removing and Disposing of Illegal Hazardous Waste Dumps: Poland Case Study

Socio-Economic Challenges of Removing and Disposing of Illegal Hazardous Waste Dumps: Poland Case Study

Pyrolysis kinetic behavior of composite polypropylene-biomass solid fuels derived via co-hydrothermal carbonization process

A treatment method producing solid fuel from surgical face masks was developed to address the high cost of medical waste management and the environmental concerns of large-scale, hazardous waste dumping during the coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. The fuel properties were investigated of solid fuel produced from surgical face masks (polypropylene material (PP)) and from PP mixed with biomass (composite PP-biomass) using a hydrothermal carbonization process (HTC), followed by pyrolysis using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The Coats-Redfern (CR) method was used to analyze the pyrolysis kinetics and thermodynamic parameters. The results demonstrated that the thermal decomposition of raw PP material was less stable than for its hydrochar and the fuel properties of hydrochar obtained from the PP material were substantially improved using an increased HTC temperature. The activation energy value of the raw composite PP-biomass material was higher than for its hydrochar. This research identified an option for a potentially environmental-friendly treatment method for PP-material and its utilization as solid fuel.

Corporate Criminal Liability for Illegal Toxic and Hazardous Waste Dumping

Abstract. Modern corporations and industries play a crucial role in global economic development. However, with rapid industrial growth, large-scale production, and intensive use of natural resources, humans have inadvertently created serious threats to the environmental balance. One of the most significant and damaging negative impacts is environmental pollution, specifically the problem of toxic hazardous material waste. The protection of communities from environmental crimes involves imposing criminal sanctions not only on individual legal subjects but also on corporate legal entities, a concept known as corporate criminal liability. The aim of this research is to analyze the manifestation of corporate criminal liability in cases involving the illegal disposal of hazardous toxic waste into the environment. Additionally, it seeks to examine the enforcement of corporate law in these instances. This research employs qualitative methods with a normative juridical approach. The legal sources used in this normative research include primary legal materials, secondary legal materials, and tertiary legal materials. The findings of this research suggest that the handling of corporate criminal acts, particularly in cases of hazardous toxic waste dumping, falls short of delivering complete justice due to obstacles in the investigation, prosecution, and the establishment of environmental impacts in the prosecution of corporate environmental crimes. Therefore, it is essential to consider the application of the doctrine of strict liability in cases of environmental pollution, especially in waste dumping incidents. The implementation of strict liability for corporations in the prosecution of environmental criminal acts, such as the dumping of toxic hazardous waste, eliminates the need to prove wrongdoing, whether intentional or negligent, including the motive behind the corporation’s actions.
 Keywords: Law, Corporation, Dumping, Waste, Toxic Hazardous Materials, Environment
 Abstrak. Perusahaan dan industri modern memainkan peran penting dalam pembangunan ekonomi global. Namun, dengan pertumbuhan industri yang pesat, produksi skala besar, dan penggunaan sumber daya alam yang intensif, manusia secara tidak sengaja telah menimbulkan ancaman serius terhadap keseimbangan lingkungan. Salah satu dampak negatif yang paling besar dan merusak adalah pencemaran lingkungan, khususnya masalah limbah bahan beracun dan berbahaya. Perlindungan masyarakat dari kejahatan lingkungan hidup meliputi pemberian sanksi pidana tidak hanya terhadap subjek hukum perseorangan tetapi juga terhadap badan hukum korporasi, suatu konsep yang dikenal dengan pertanggungjawaban pidana korporasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis wujud pertanggungjawaban pidana korporasi dalam kasus pembuangan limbah bahan beracun berbahaya ke lingkungan secara tidak sah. Selain itu, penelitian ini berupaya untuk memeriksa penegakan hukum perusahaan dalam kasus-kasus ini. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan yuridis normatif. Sumber hukum yang digunakan dalam penelitian normatif ini meliputi bahan hukum primer, bahan hukum sekunder, dan bahan hukum tersier. Temuan penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa penanganan tindak pidana korporasi, khususnya kasus pembuangan limbah B3, belum memberikan keadilan yang utuh karena adanya kendala dalam penyidikan, penuntutan, dan penetapan dampak lingkungan hidup dalam penuntutan tindak pidana korporasi. kejahatan. Oleh karena itu, penting untuk mempertimbangkan penerapan doktrin pertanggungjawaban ketat dalam kasus pencemaran lingkungan, khususnya pada insiden pembuangan limbah. Penerapan tanggung jawab yang ketat bagi korporasi dalam penuntutan tindak pidana lingkungan hidup, seperti pembuangan limbah beracun dan berbahaya, menghilangkan kebutuhan untuk membuktikan kesalahan, baik disengaja maupun lalai, termasuk motif di balik tindakan korporasi.
 Kata kunci: Hukum, Korporasi, Dumping, Limbah, Bahan Beracun Berbahaya, Lingkungan Hidup

Environmental Crimes: Their Nature, Scope, and Problems in Identification

Environmental crimes are illegal acts that directly harm the environment. They can cause considerable damage to ecosystems, increasing the risk of disease, environmental disaster, food chain contamination, pollution, wildlife degradation, reduced life expectancy, and increased rates of human morbidity. Environmental crime is the fourth largest criminal enterprise in the world. (INTERPOL-UN) These crimes include illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, hazardous waste dumping, illegal fishing, and the trade of endangered species, among others. Despite their wide-ranging implications, identifying and prosecuting these offenses remain challenging. This paper explores the nature and scope of environmental crimes, the difficulties in their identification, and the need for improved detection and enforcement mechanisms to tackle these illegal activities effectively. By examining the current state of environmental crime, the paper seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue, contributing to the development of more effective policies and strategies to combat this growing global problem. The European Space Agency is offering technical support and funding to companies developing innovative and commercial services that use space technology to combat environmental crimes. The paper also discusses the role of organized criminal networks and the relationship between environmental crimes and other types of criminal activities such as money laundering, corruption, and human trafficking. From the other side, it examines the challenges posed by the complexity of environmental crimes, the need for specialized knowledge and expertise, and the role of corruption and other factors that hinder effective identification and enforcement.
 
 Received: 05 May 2022 / Accepted: 16 May 2023 / Published: 20 May 2023

Environmental Aspects of the State of African Coastal Territories

To preserve the ecological balance and health of the population of the African continent, it is necessary to maintain the cleanliness of the surrounding rivers, lakes and ocean coasts. Oil production, transportation of oil and petroleum products inevitably lead to pollution of sea waters due to accidents on tankers, equipment breakdowns, and fires. Oceanic coasts are of great importance for the development of the tourism industry, which plays a significant role in the national economies of African countries. However, many coastal areas are contaminated with industrial and household waste, oil refining waste and sewage. As a result of the growth of cities, the increase in the number of urban residents and the development of industry, a huge number of substances that do not decompose naturally is discharged into water sources. Currently, domestic sewage in most coastal cities does not meet modern sanitary requirements, since the repair of old and the laying of new sewage treatment plants require large financial investments. In the interests of nature and human health, a number of international instruments has been adopted prohibiting the import of hazardous and radioactive waste, as well as the dumping or incineration of hazardous waste in the oceans and inland waters on the African continent. In some African countries, periodic clean-up activities are carried out on ocean and river coasts, but they are ad hoc and do not have a decisive impact on the state of contaminated areas. Experts of international environmental organizations have proposed a set of measures for the conservation and rational use of water resources: construction of wastewater treatment plants; mandatory environmental assessment of all major water management projects; development of measures to eliminate possible damage; control of new industrial installations and industrial waste disposal; design and operation of landfills based on reliable hydrogeological information and environmental expertise. However, these regulations are often violated, and solving the problem of coastal water pollution remains a distant prospect.

Assessment of the Legal Framework Regulating Waste Management in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, the difficulties associated with waste management have taken on a major dimension during the past several decades. The high population growth rate and rise in economic activity in Bangladesh's metropolitan regions, along with a lack of waste management training, make attempts to enhance waste management services difficult. In Bangladesh, per capita, trash output in urban residential areas is much greater than in rural residential areas. The nations' capacity to collect, handle, dispose of, or recycle the trash in a cost-effective way is severely constrained. Bangladesh, like the rest of the globe, has seen a considerable increase in environmental threats. Attackers in the atmosphere represent an overwhelming danger to humans and other living things. Wetlands, aquatic bodies, coral reefs, and the seas are all threatened by the dumping of hazardous waste and pollution from land-based sources. There is also rising worry about the negative socioeconomic, public health, and environmental effects of e-waste toxicity. Standard technology, infrastructure, skilled staff, and budgetary constraints are significant problems for private business owners. They now require e-waste management standards and guidelines in order to do business in an environmentally sustainable manner. Whereas many developed and developing nations have established a scientific method for efficient garbage disposal, Bangladesh has yet to formulate a "Comprehensive National Strategy" to effectively manage the problem of trash disposal. Some laws and regulations, such as the Environment Conservation Act of 1995, contain measures for the reduction and control of waste emissions from diverse sources, as well as their disposal. The goal of this study is to look into and evaluate how useful Bangladesh's current laws are for managing waste.

Towards a Business, Human Rights and the Environment Framework

We are in the midst of an ecological crisis which has been and continues to be provoked by human-led ‘environmental degradation’ (defined for the purposes of this editorial as any harm or adverse impact caused to the environment, including climate change, the contamination of the land and water through the exposure to or dumping of toxic and hazardous substances and wastes, air pollution, the destruction of ecosystems, and the depletion of biodiversity) [...]

Disposal of medical waste: a legal perspective in Zimbabwe

The constitution of Zimbabwe provides that everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being. However, the illegal dumping and inappropriate disposal of hazardous waste poses a danger to the health of scavengers who are directly exposed to it and to the environment when pollutants migrate into water sources, spread into air and ultimately causing widespread of infection and toxicity.2 The safe disposal of hazardous waste is governed by legislation and regulations which in turn gives effect to the constitution.

Africa in the Eye of the Storm: Navigating Law and Structural Inequality in Global Environmental Relations

Environmental racism is a phenomenon defined by an unfair allocation of environmental risks. It is a systematic violation of the right to a safe and healthy environment. Environmental racism takes root in the colonial prioritization of race in the distribution of social and environmental benefits. The environment should not be treated like an infinite garbage can. The economic polarity of the world will always have some people on the receiving end of an ordeal. In contradistinction to the ideal, in Africa, environmental justice is a concept of privilege. The costs of industrialization such as environmental degradation and the generation of toxic waste have brought about imbalances in the environment. These imbalances have caused variant problems, both short term and long term This article discussed environmental racism and what it means for the realization of environmental justice. This article further compared the successes of the Bamako Convention to the Basel Convention in the light of the realities of the dumping of hazardous waste in Africa and the conduct of activities injurious to the environment. It further examined the activities of multinational companies in Africa and how weak regulatory environments aid the impunity of environmental pollution

The Trajectory of Illicit Waste Trade in Africa: Implications for Human Rights and Sustainable Development

As globalisation intensifies, the environmental burden of economic development is being shifted to poor countries. This development manifests in waste trade involving the transboundary shipment of toxic waste from developed to developing countries. This article evaluates the strategies with which waste trade is being perpetuated to the detriment of sustainable development and human rights values in Sub-Sahara Africa. It argues that capitalism has influenced massive generation and commodification of waste, especially in industrialised countries. It has also established that globalisation has made the transboundary shipment of waste easy. Moreover, foreign investments in the waste industry in developing countries appear to be a means by developed countries to perpetuate waste shipment to developing countries, which helps waste traders to avoid stringent regulations and high costs of waste management in developed countries. Therefore, such investments in developing countries should not always be viewed as a breakthrough in attracting foreign investments. The findings made include that despite the existence of the Basel and Bamako Conventions at global and regional levels, respectively, waste trade has continued in different forms in Africa, where waste merchants exploit the low-cost facilities, cheap labour and weak regulatory frameworks. The trend includes the reckless dumping of hazardous industrial waste, electronic waste as well as ostensible investment in “dirty industries” in some African countries. It concludes by urging the states to individually establish robust mechanisms that protect the environment and enforce environmental rights. These measures will help complement the collective efforts they have made in multilateral and regional agreements.

Kewenangan Pengawasan oleh Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Republik Indonesia Terhadap Izin Dumping Limbah Bahan Berbahaya dan Beracun di Wilayah Kabupaten Bekasi

Bekasi Regency is a city that has a lot of industrial companies, many of these industries make environmental problems a problem in the Bekasi Regency area, illegal dumping activities of Hazardous and Toxic Materials are rampantly carried out by companies that do not have a B3 waste dumping permit. These problems make supervision related to dumping permits in the Bekasi district area important. Therefore, this study discusses how the authority to supervise hazardous and toxic waste dumping permits by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia in the Bekasi Regency area based on Government Regulation Number 22 of 2021, how are the obstacles faced by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia in supervise the dumping of B3 waste in the Bekasi Regency area. The research method used is empirical juridical, namely research that sees the law as a rule in society to be obeyed, with descriptive analysis specifications based on an analysis of the authority to supervise B3 waste dumping in Bekasi Regency which is sourced from primary data through field research and primary legal materials, namely legislation. , books, legal science journals, as well as other library materials analyzed in an analytical juridical manner. The results of this study state that the implementation of supervision and law enforcement on hazardous and toxic waste dumping permits carried out based on Government Regulation No. 22 of 2021 carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is good but not very effective in carrying out direct supervision both regularly and incidentally and there are still a few obstacles in carrying out supervision in the Bekasi Regency area, namely there are still uncooperative companies to supervise business activities, therefore the ministry of environment and forestry is expected to carry out preventive law enforcement so that all business actors comply with applicable regulations.

Bentuk Pertanggungjawaban Pidana Korporasi Sebagai Pelaku Tindak Pidana Dumping Limbah Bahan Berbahaya dan Beracun ke Media Lingkungan Hidup

Protection of the environment is a must both for humans themselves. A corporation is a form of business entity which is run by humans to achieve their interests and gain profits. Environment and humans are 2 objects that are very dependent on each other. The integration between humans and the environment on the sustainability of human life itself, will affect various aspects of the Corporation in carrying out its business activities, so that it will affect the environmental system. Thus, the environment will certainly affect human life itself. One of the potentials in this crime is the crime of dumping hazardous waste, which in the nature of Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management, dumping of hazardous waste is prohibited if it is not managed. Protection of the environment is a must both for humans themselves. A corporation is a form of business entity which is run by humans to achieve their interests and gain profits.Keywords: Crime; Waste Dumping; Corporation

EVALUATION OF SOLID MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS AND TOXIC MATERIALS (HAZARDOUS AND TOXIC MATERIALS (B3)) AT EDUCATIONAL HOSPITAL IN SEMARANG

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the production of solid medical waste generated by hospitals and other health care facilities increases to nearly 30%. The amount of the increase and waste generated can spread diseases if the waste is not properly managed. Hospital waste is included in the category of medical waste of hazardous and toxic substances (B3), whose management procedures and technical requirements are regulated in the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number 56 in 2015. This research aims to evaluate the hazardous and toxic materials (B3) solid medical waste management at Educational Hospital in Semarang, which includes reducing, sorting, storing, transporting, and ensuring the staff's protection. This is descriptive quantitative research with a cross-sectional study design and an evaluative method. Data sources in this research were obtained from observations, interviews, and document studies. Based on the research conducted, the results of the evaluation of hazardous and toxic materials (B3) solid medical waste management at this Hospital showed a total percentage of 74.75% for the compatible category. The percentage of compatibility was still low and did not meet the requirements of the Unsuitable requirements include trash cans that are not equipped with infection symbols, holes in hazardous and toxic materials (B3) waste dumps, solid plastic waste compaction, errors in binding plastic waste, and incompatibility in personal protective equipment use.

Legal obstacles for the circular economy in Thailand: Illegal dumping of recyclable hazardous industrial waste

The circular economy has become one of the potential solutions for simultaneously addressing the huge amount of waste generated and the accelerated depletion of virgin resources, both of which are key obstacles for sustainable development. As this concept is pursued with the goal of maintaining the value of products and resources in the economy for as long as possible, recycling is undeniably a key component. However, in Thailand, many hazardous industrial waste recycling projects are unfortunately viewed as sources of environmental contamination, thereby leading to unacceptable human and ecological health risks, mostly owing to infamous illegal dumping cases associated with recycling facilities. Consequently, recycling facilities have been increasingly opposed by local communities. This study, therefore, aims to analyze legal frameworks on waste regulations in Thailand and identify legal loopholes in the regulations, creating opportunities for recycling facilities to avoid proper waste recycling by dumping the waste illegally instead. Forty-two illegal dumping cases in the central, western, and eastern parts of Thailand, mostly linked with waste-processing facilities, were analyzed. Moreover, the most infamous case of illegal dumping in western Thailand was thoroughly assessed to determine the root causes of legal insufficiency in practice. We found that five major causes of the illegal dumping of recyclable hazardous industrial waste in Thailand are 1) a lack of market and financial feasibility evaluations during the permission process, 2) a lack of mass-balance monitoring, 3) poor groundwater and soil contamination regulation, 4) a lack of transparency in the monitoring process, and 5) inadequate punishment and lack of private sector engagement. Consequently, based on several circular economy evaluation frameworks, we have proposed recommendations to close these critical legal loopholes.

Delivering Environmental Justice through Environmental Impact Assessment in the United States: The Challenge of Public Participation

The United States (US) occupies the frontline of events in modern history of environmental reform. The federal government through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1970 has not only established an environmental policy template for other nations to emulate, but has also produced a viable tool for regulating environmental quality (EQ) and delivering environmental justice (EJ)—Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). However, environmental history provides evidence that political process and special interests govern the attainment of the EJ goal by way of inadequate adherence to the NEPA provisions. Public participation (PP) is a principal requirement for achieving EJ and constitutes a pivotal determinant of EIA outcome. Effective delivery of EJ through EIA does require complete compliance with NEPA stipulations. Furthermore, the responsible agency’s resources in terms of both funding and commitment in allowing for the full representation of the opinions of residents within communities of concern (CoC) for environmental decision-making process are critically important. Public health research approach offers valuable tools towards achieving EJ goals. To approach this topic, first I provide a historical background on EIA and EJ from the standpoint of the NEPA. Second, I discuss the meaning and impediments of PP. Third, I examine two scenarios viz the Triassic Park Hazardous Waste Dump in Roswell, and the public hearing of the recent “controversial” oil and gas ordinance in Sandoval County, both in New Mexico. Finally, in the discussion part, I attempt to evaluate PP in both cases and suggest that none of the criteria seem to have been met in either case. I conclude that the Home State Rule designation of New Mexico State in terms of control over oil and gas activities places it at an advantage in benefitting from a fair PP.

Investigation of the implementation and effectiveness of electronic waste management in Nigeria

The BASEL Convention, adopted on March 22, 1989 and entered into force on May 5, 1992, was aimed at protecting countries from the dumping of hazardous wastes by controlling their trans-border transportation. Participation has grown over the years to 181 countries (as of April 2016). Transboundary wastes were first introduced into Nigeria following a negotiation worth $100 per month in the 1980s partly as a result of environmental awareness in developed nations. This led the country to be a party to the Convention. External sources of electronic wastes include the increasing numbers of such wastes that continue to get into the country as a result the “digital divide”; these reach their end of life, sometimes more quickly than expected, and the average consumer eventually dumps them alongside municipal wastes. The municipal wastes are usually burnt and toxic pollutants are released into the environment.

Perceptions of environmental health risks among residents in the "Toxic Doughnut": opportunities for risk screening and community mobilization.

BackgroundSurrounded by landfills, and toxic and hazardous facilities, Altgeld Gardens is located in a “toxic doughnut”. With high rates of environmentally-related conditions, residents have called for a community-based environmental health assessment to improve overall health in their community. The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes and beliefs of environmental health risks of Altgeld’s residents which would assist community organizing efforts and provide the groundwork for a community-based environmental health assessment.MethodsA questionnaire was designed and administered to 42 Altgeld residents who also participated in focus groups to assess their perceptions of environmental health risks.ResultsAll participants were Altgeld residents for at least two years and were fairly representative of the broader community. Physical and social hazards were primarily identified as posing risks to participants’ family and the broader community. Physical hazards included the dumping of hazardous waste and landfills; social hazards were crime and drugs.ConclusionsThese findings have been useful in community organizing efforts and in program planning for local community-based organizations and public health agencies. The results have also been used to prioritize health and environmental risk issues impacting the community.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2563-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Ecological restoration of waste dumps by topsoil blanketing, coir-matting and seeding with grass–legume mixture

Solid waste generated in an integrated sponge iron plant is categorized as hazardous material consists of fly ash, dolochar and slag. The present study investigated ecological restoration of hazardous waste dump having a top flat surface of 5ha, with 40–50m height and steep slope (>70°). The flat top and slope of the dump was blanked with a thick layer of topsoil (75–100cm) and top surface was compacted with dozers. The steep slope was covered with coir-mat and before the onset of monsoon, grass–legume seed mixture was seeded and covered with loose soil. Seed mixture consists of legumes (Stylosanthes hamata, Sesbania sesban, and Crotalaria juncea) and grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum). At the top surface, a slope of 3° was maintained for the collection of runoff and later on developed as community park and fruit orchards. On the berm of the dump, three rows of perennial lemon grass tillers (Cymbopogon citratus), seeds of Azadirachta indica, with fast growing, annual legumes (S. sesban and C. juncea) were planted. The dead aerial part acts as mulching materials, increases nutrient contents, ameliorate surface temperature. The waste materials were highly alkaline (pH 12) with high calcium content, while topsoil was acidic (pH 4.5–4.6), which was a site specific advantage for amelioration of dump materials. Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of different legumes and grasses to assess the improvement in physicochemical and nutritional properties of the dump and compared with nearby by reference forest soil. After 18 months, it has been observed entire slope is stabilized due to the massive growth of Stylosanthes legumes. Average cost ecorestoration was US$ 39,730ha−1 (US$ 4m−2), out of which 31% contributed by excavation of transportation of topsoil, 20% for coir-mat, 13% was running cost for heavy earth moving machinery and 17% constitutes revegetation cost. The study concluded that waste dump with loose steep slope can be restored by seeding with grass–legumes mixture blanketed with topsoil and coir-mat.

Are we living in a post‐Basel world?

The Basel Convention (the Convention) is a key piece of law governing the international waste trade. The spirit of the Convention is to prohibit the dumping of hazardous waste from ‘developed’ countries to ‘developing’ countries. Yet, a careful consideration of the Convention suggests a problematic geographical imaginary at work in it. It imagines a bi‐modal world comprised of what it calls Annex VII countries (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Community (EC) and Lichtenstein) and non‐Annex VII countries (all other signatories) and seeks to prohibit the shipment of hazardous waste from the former to the latter. In effect, what this geographical imaginary attempts to institute is a world of trade in which all non‐Annex VII territories are equally vulnerable to hazardous waste dumping from Annex VII territories, but not vulnerable to such dumping amongst themselves. Yet, the non‐Annex VII grouping contains a hugely diverse set of countries, including the two largest non‐Annex VII economies, China and India. Drawing on textual analysis of Convention documents and trade data available for China and India, the paper engages with recent research into the growing role of ‘South–South’ trade to critically engage with the geographical imaginary of the Basel Convention. It suggests that as the global patterns of hazardous waste trade shift, the relevance of the Basel Convention's geographical imaginary declines.