Editing Basel Convention (section)

==Definition of ''hazardous waste''==

Waste falls under the scope of the convention if it is within the category of wastes listed in Annex I of the convention and it exhibits one of the hazardous characteristics contained in Annex III.<ref>art 1 al a</ref>
In other words, it must both be listed and possess a characteristic such as being explosive, flammable, toxic, or corrosive. The other way that a waste may fall under the scope of the convention is if it is defined as or considered to be a hazardous waste under the laws of either the exporting country, the importing country, or any of the countries of transit.<ref>art 1 al b</ref>

The definition of the term disposal is made in Article 2 al 4 and just refers to annex IV, which gives a list of operations which are understood as disposal or recovery. Examples of disposal are broad, including recovery and recycling.

Alternatively, to fall under the scope of the convention, it is sufficient for waste to be included in Annex II, which lists other wastes, such as household wastes and residue that comes from incinerating household waste.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/daf/competition/Waste-management-services-2013.pdf |title=Waste Management Services |date=27 October 2013 |access-date=2015-02-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214163038/http://www.oecd.org/daf/competition/Waste-management-services-2013.pdf |archive-date=14 February 2015}}, p.16</ref>

[[Radioactive waste]] that is covered under other international control systems and wastes from the normal operation of ships are not covered.

Annex IX attempts to define wastes which are not considered hazardous wastes and which would be excluded from the scope of the Basel Convention. If these wastes however are contaminated with hazardous materials to an extent causing them to exhibit an Annex III characteristic, they are not excluded.