Basel Convention

ARGENTINA

Status of Ratification/Accession/Acceptance/Approval:	27.06.1991 (r)
Ratification/Acceptance of the Amendment to the Basel Convention:	Not yet as of 20.11.2002

Competent Authority	Focal Point
Secretaría de Desarrollo Sustentable y Política Ambiental Subsecretaría de Ordenamiento y Política Ambiental Dirección Nacional de Ordenamiento Ambiental Director Nacional Dr. Miguel Angel Craviotto San Martín 459 - (1004) - Buenos Aires tel: [phone] fax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] web site: www.medioambiente.gov.ar	Ministerio de Relationes Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto Direccion General de Asuntos Ambientales Esmeralda 1212 – (1007) Buenos Aires tel: [phone] fax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail]

National Definition

The national definition of “waste” of Argentina is same as the Basel definition of waste (National Law 23922 – Basel Convention ratification). “Hazardous Waste” is any waste that belongs to any category contained in annex I of the Basel Convention “or” any waste that possess any of the characteristic listed in annex III of the Basel Convention. (National Law No. 24051 of Hazardous Wastes). Argentina does not control the categories of wastes listed in annex II of the Basel Convention yet, but it is working on a project to control “universal” or household wastes with a hazardous characteristic listed in Annex III of the Basel Convention. Radioactive wastes and those ones derived from the normal operations of a ship are excluded from the scope of National Law of Hazardous Wastes because they are ruled by other regulations and international instruments.

Argentina regulates/controls additional wastes as hazardous that are not included in Art. 1 (1)a of the Basel Convention and would be controlled for the purpose of transboundary movements pursuant to Art. 1 (1)b. These wastes are: Any waste possessing any of the characteristics contained in Annex III to the Basel Convention. Used tyres require special consideration when subjected to transboundary movement. There is an import ban on used tyres, asbestos (import ban for amphiboles), PCBs (in any application), and soft PVC toys.

Data* on the Generation and Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes** and Other Wastes*** in 2000 (as reported)

		Quantities (in metric tonnes)
Generation	Total amount of hazardous wastesgenerated	No data
	Total amount of other wastesgenerated	No data
Transboundary Movement	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesexported	603
	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesimported	No data

^* Figures are rounded to the nearest integer.

** Covers wastes under Art. 1 (1)a (Annex I: Y1-Y45) and Art. 1 (1)b.

*** Covers wastes under (Annex II: Y46-Y47).

Restrictions on Transboundary Movement	Amendment to the Basel Convention Argentina is in a preparatory process of implementing the amendment to the Basel Convention (Decision III/1).
	Restrictions on export for final disposal and for recovery Argentina has no restrictions on the export of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal and for recovery.
	Restrictions on transit, import for final disposal and for recovery Argentina has an import ban for those wastes defined as hazardous according to the National Law of Hazardous Wastes (National Law 24051. Entry into force 1991). Decree of Import of Wastes 181 (Entry in force 1992). The entry of hazardous wastes and radioactive wastes into national territory is forbidden by National Constitution (Entry into force in 1994). This restriction covers all countries and wastes covered by National Legislation. (Please note that national territory encloses 12 miles of Argentine sea.)

Reduction and/or Elimination of Hazardous Waste Generation	National strategies/policies Hazardous Waste generators have to present a plan to reduce the generation of hazardous wastes by means of change of technology; segregation of streams; and recycling, when it is possible, in an environmentally sound manner. The Environmental Authority (Competent Authority), has designed a National Plan of Reduction and Elimination of PCBs, which is under appliance. Additional Plans of Elimination (other POPs and PTS, such as mercury compounds and articles such as batteries) are under preparation.
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines National Law 24.051 - Decree 831/93.
	Economic instruments/ initiatives Environmental tax for generators, transporters of hazardous wastes and hazardous waste treatment plants. This tax is decreased in accordance with reduction of the generation of hazardous waste.
	Measures taken by industries/waste generators Industries are making efforts to replace the electrical devices with PCB and to eliminate them.
	Others Establishment of a Sub-Regional Center for Training and Technology Transfer in Buenos Aires.

Transboundary Movement Reduction Measures

National strategies/policies Argentina has a number of treatment plants. But there are no licensed disposal facilities for specific waste such as PCBs or high organochloride substances due to lack of capacity for the control of dioxins and furans. Training courses are given to the different provinces of the country to develop treatment capacity so as to dispose wastes near their place of generation. Provincial or territorial approval is required to operate a treatment plant. For regulation of waste management there are: A legal tool, Law No. 24.051, regulated by Executive Decree No. 831/93 that rules the “generation, handling and treatment of hazardous waste”. A workable tool, Register of generators and operators of hazardous waste. With the intention of exercising due control over hazardous waste the enforcement authority requires mandatory registration of all those parties that generate, handle, carry, treat or dispose hazardous waste.

	Two documents are used to exercise the control: Environmental Annual Certificate: After all the legal and technical requirements that ensure an environmental sound management of the hazardous waste are fulfilled, the concerned parties receive this certificate. Industries, carriers, treatment and disposal plants and any other activity that generates or operates with hazardous wastes must have the necessary authorization. The company which carries on a movement of hazardous wastes also needs this certificate for operating. Manifest: It is the document that records the origin of the waste, and its transfer from the generation site to the final disposal plant (from cradle to the grave).
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines Law No. 24051, regulated by Executive Decree No. 831/93 that rules the “generation, handling and treatment of hazardous waste”; Law No. 23922, ratification of the Basel Convention (1992); and Provincial legislations. Information can be obtained from: www.medioambiente.gov.ar
	Measures taken by industries/waste generators The application of International Management Systems.

Disposal/ Recovery Facilities

Disposal facilities Some of the available facilities are: Borg Austral SA, Secondary Net 014-04 Rute 9, to Capilla del Señor. Buenos Aires, treatment of inorganic wastes by stabilization – solidification, oxidation and reduction. Categories: Y2, Y6, Y8, Y9, Y11 to Y13, Y16, Y17, Y19 to Y32, Y34 to Y36, for D9 operations; Borg Austral SA, Secondary Net 014-04 Rute 9, to Capilla del Señor. Buenos Aires, final disposal in hazardous waste landfill. Categories: Y2, Y4, Y6, Y8, Y9, Y11 to Y13, Y16 to Y18, Y20 toY32, Y34 to Y36, for D1 operations; Borg Austral SA, Av. de los Constituyentes 4425, Ricardo Rojas, Tigre. Buenos Aires, treatment of inorganic wastes by stabilization – solidification, oxidation and reduction. Categories: Y2, Y6, Y8, Y9, Y11 to Y13, Y16, Y17, Y19 to Y32, Y34 to Y36, for D9 operations; Borg Austral SA, Av. de los Constituyentes 4425, Ricardo Rojas, Tigre. Buenos Aires, incineration treatment. Categories: Y2 to Y6, Y8, Y9, Y11, Y12, Y16, Y18, Y37 to Y42, Y45, for D10 operations; and IDM SA, Ruta 7 s/n (2200)-San Lorenzo-Santa Fé, incineration treatment. Categories: Y2 to Y9, Y11 to Y13, Y16 to Y18, Y37 to Y42, for D10 operations. There are several facilities in the country. A complete list can be obtained from: www.medioambiente.gov.ar (Dirección Nacional de Ordenamiento Ambiental - Unidad Registro).

Recovery/recycling/re-use facilities Some of the available facilities are: LUBRISIDER S. A., used mineral oil re-refining. Mineral oils from transformers, for R9 operations; KIOSHI SA, used mineral oil re-refining. Mineral oils from transformers, for R9 operations; IDM SA, Ruta 7 s/n (2200)-San Lorenzo-Santa Fé, Ni-Cadmiun Batteries recycling/reclamation of metals Y26, for R4 operations; IDM SA, Ruta 7 s/n (2200)-San Lorenzo-Santa Fé, solvent reclamation/regeneration Y6,Y42,Y41, for R2 operations; and IDM SA, Ruta 7 s/n (2200)-San Lorenzo-Santa Fé, recycling/reclamation of tonner cartridges Y12, for R3,R11 operations. There are several facilities in the country. A complete list can be obtained from: www.medioambiente.gov.ar (Dirección Nacional de Ordenamiento Ambiental - Unidad Registro).

Bilateral, Multilateral or Regional Agreements

None.

Technical Assistance and Training Available

The available sources are: Basel Convention Regional Centre for South America, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial (INTI), Av. De los Constituyentes (B1650KNA), Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tel.: [phone]/ ext. 6526; Fax: [phone] 53 57 69; Secretaría de Desarrollo Sustentable y Política Ambiental, San Martín 459, Buenos Aires (1004), Argentina, 05411-4348-8425, e-mail:[e-mail], www.medioambiente.gov.ar; Universidad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA), Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, 05411-4576-3361, e-mail: [e-mail]; INTI-Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial, Av. Gral. Paz e/Albarellos y Avenida de los Constituyentes, 05411-4724-0587; Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, CNEA, Av. Del Libertador 8250, 05411-0704-1000; INA - Instituto Nacional del Agua y el Ambiente, Autop. Ezeiza Cañuelas km1620, Ezeiza, 05411-44480-9219/448.9225; and CITEFA Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de las FFAA, J. Zufriategui 4380-Villa Martelli, 05411-4709-0391.

Basel Convention

Country Fact Sheet