Overview
The Basel Convention exists to stop hazardous waste from being dumped on countries that cannot deal with it. It governs how such waste may cross borders and how it must be handled once it arrives.
The core problem is uneven capacity. Wealthier exporters once moved hazardous and electronic waste to places without the means to treat it safely. Basel adds consent and tracking so those shipments cannot happen quietly.
What it controls
The treaty covers both the journey and the destination of hazardous waste.
Where it connects
Basel sits in a family of waste and chemicals instruments. Inside the EU, waste handling is shaped by the Waste Framework Directive and, for electronics, the WEEE Directive. On the chemicals side, the Rotterdam Convention handles trade in hazardous chemicals rather than waste.
Note: general educational information, not legal advice. Check the official source before relying on it.