Basel Convention Parties Begin Work On The Control Of Waste Textiles

Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (Basel Convention) have agreed to take up work on how transboundary movements of waste textiles and their management could be addressed under the Basel Convention. The decision to begin work on waste textiles follows growing concern with the mismanagement of waste textiles, particularly with respect to exports to developing countries that lack adequate facilities for ensuring environmentally sound management. The workplan agreed upon at the 17th meeting of Conference of Parties (COP-17) (April 28 – May 9) is likely a first step toward new waste classifications for waste textiles under the Convention, with implications for the reuse and recycling of textiles and, more broadly, the circularity ambitions of leading brands.