TRANSFRONTIER SHIPPING
Whenever secondary metal-containing materials need to be shipped across national borders, regulations needs to be obeyed. For most countries the so-called BASEL CONVENTION applies, whereas the European Union implemented this convention as law under COUNSEL REGULATION (EEC) No. 259/93. These rules have been implemented to regulate the streams of possibly hazardous materials and to make sure that treatment/processing is done in an environmentally sound manner.
Although there is enough to complain about the practical enforcement and the local/national interpretation of these rules, it makes all of us think twice of our responsibility towards the environment we and our children live in.
In order to determine what to do when it comes to deciding where to go with waste, we need to answer the following questions:
- How do we need to classify the material: Green list / Amber list / Red list
- Is the material to be classified as hazardous?
- Can I ship the material to the country where my treatment facility is located?
If the materials have been classified and the country of destination is a member
of the Basel Convention, we can start with the procedure to apply for the necessary
permits. All countries involved, including the transit-countries need to approve
of the wish to ship material from A to B. 
