CA SR47

Supports the Basel Convention on Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes, an international treaty signed by 187 countries that regulates cross-border hazardous waste movement.

Urges the United States Congress to fully ratify the Basel Convention and amend the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 to restrict import and export of hazardous wastes, including plastic waste.

Notes the United States signed the Basel Convention in 1989 and the Senate consented to ratification in 1992, but the House failed to pass required amendments, preventing finalization of ratification.

Highlights California's waste reduction goals (75-percent waste reduction, recycling, and composting) and concerns that overseas waste export has resulted in illegal dumping, burning, and ocean plastic pollution rather than legitimate recycling.

Supports the May 2019 Basel Conference amendment that adds contaminated and mixed plastic waste as a hazardous material requiring receiving countries' consent and demonstrated recycling capacity.