Waste management confab ends with Bali declaration

The ninth Conference of Parties (COP-9) to the Basel Convention ended here on Friday with the issuance of so-called Bali Declaration.

But the declaration made no mention of crucial issues related to a ban on the import and export of hazardous waste or what among conference delegates is known as the BAN Amendment.

Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar in his capacity as president of the COP-9 to the Basel Convention said the Bali meeting had made one step forward with regard to the BAN Amendment.

After days of lobbying, 40 countries agreed to the formation of a working group tasked with discussing the BAN Amendment. Indonesia and Switzerland initiated the formation of the working group.

"After 15 years of deadlocked talks on the BAN Amendement, the Bali meeting has eventually made one step forward. With the formation of the working group, we will start discussing all practical issues relating to the BAN Amendment," Witoelar said.

Although the ...