Basel Convention

BAHRAIN

Status of Ratification/Accession/Acceptance/Approval:	15.10.1992 (r)
Ratification/Acceptance of the Amendment to the Basel Convention:	Not yet as of 20.11.2002

Competent Authority	Focal Point
Environmental Affairs General Commission for the Protection of Marines Resources, Environment & Wildlife P.O. Box 32657 – Isa Town tel: [phone] / 87-4165 fax: [phone] / 78-6102 e-mail: [e-mail]	Same as the Competent Authority

National Definition

The definition of “waste” is in accordance with the Basel Convention. “Hazardous waste” is any waste containing significant quantities of a substance which may present danger to the life or health of living organisms when released in the environment or to the safety of humans or equipment in disposal when incorrectly handled. Hazardous properties include toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic characteristics, as well as flammability, chemical reactivity or other biologically damaging properties (including radioactivity). There are no wastes defined as, or considered to be hazardous wastes by national legislation in accordance with Art. 1, para 1(b) of the Basel Convention. In Bahrain there are no wastes other than those pursuant to Art. 1 (1)a and/or Art. 1 (1)b of the Basel Convention that require special consideration when subjected to transboundary movement.

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	140 000 ^1)
	Total amount of other wastesgenerated	234 187
Transboundary Movement	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesexported	978 ^2)
	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).

1) Figure refers to the total amount of hazardous wastes generated under Art. 1 (1)a (Annex I: Y1-Y45).

2) Figure refers to the total amount of hazardous wastes under Art. 1 (1)a exported.

Restrictions on Transboundary Movement	Amendment to the Basel Convention Bahrain is in a preparatory process of implementing the amendment to the Basel Convention (Decision III/1).
	Restrictions on export for final disposal Bahrain is in a preparatory process to restrict the export of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal.
	Restriction on export for recovery Bahrain has no restrictions on the export of hazardous wastes and other wastes for recovery.
	Restrictions on transit and import for final disposal and for recovery Bahrain is in a preparatory process to restrict transit and import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal and for recovery.

Reduction and/or Elimination of Hazardous Waste Generation	National strategies/policies Environmental Affairs (EA) is approaching international agencies and organizations to assist in minimizing the quantity of industrial / hazardous wastes generated in the country. Many meetings have been held with the major industries to chalk out practical and achievable plans and programs for waste minimization utilizing efficient and environmental friendly processes, methodologies and equipments; EA is operating a dedicated industrial landfill site and looking after to establish state-of-the-art hazardous waste treatment facilities: and A new incineration system for treating the generated healthcare wastes (i.e. clinical, pharmaceutical, infectious anatomical and chemical wastes) has been commissioned and is operating since April, 2002 which is considered as a major milestone in environmental protection and part of national strategy to reduce and treat the hazardous wastes in the country.
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines “Healthcare Waste Management Standards”: Ministerial Order No.1 of 2001 has been issued highlighting the collection, transportation, storage, transfer, treatment and disposal of hazardous healthcare waste generated in Kingdom of Bahrain. The emissions from healthcare treatment facilities are also streamlined as well the management and disposal of effluent and solid waste residues. Article 5 stated : The waste producer shall seek to reduce the generation levels of such waste in quantity and quality through developing the appliances and equipment used, adopt and use a clean technology, select the alternatives and raw materials that cause less damage to the environment and public health; “Industrial Waste Management Standards”: The draft standards for collection, storage, handling, transportation, transfer, treatment, disposal, recycling and reuse have been prepared and discussed with the industries. The standards will soon be finalized and enforced in the country; and “Used Oil Management Standards”: The draft standards for management of used oil has been prepared highlighting the collection, storage, handling, treatment, disposal, recycling and reuse of oil and related products. The standards will soon be finalized and enforced in the country.
	Economic instruments/ initiatives None.
	Measures taken by industries/waste generators Several industrial companies have adopted and are certified by ISO 14000 standards, such as Aluminum Bahrain (ALBA), Gulf Petrochemical Industries (GPIC), Midal Cables etc., in addition to implementation of environment management system strategy.
	Others Ongoing projects on cleaner production, recycling, reduction of hazardous waste and elimination of hazardous waste.

Transboundary Movement Reduction Measures	National strategies/policies Advocating for adoption of cleaner production by the new industrial projects; Minimizing the generation of hazardous wastes through the modification of industrial processes of the existing industries; Environmental impact assessment by the EA. No permission is given to the new industries during this stage until they take provision to reduce the anticipated hazardous wastes; and A new industrial landfill site has been operating since February, 2001 to accommodate the industrial hazardous and semi-hazardous wastes being generated in the country with a capacity of 746 000 M^3.
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines “Industrial Waste Management Standards” & “Used Oil Management Standards”: The draft standards for collection, storage, handling, transportation, transfer, treatment, disposal, recycling and transboundary movements have been prepared and discussed with the industries. The same will be soon issued, finalized and enforced in the kingdom of Bahrain.
	Economic instruments/ initiatives None.
	Measures taken by industries/waste generators All industrial establishments are required to prepare and submit a quarterly environmental compliance report to the EA indicating the industrial effluents and air emission detailed analysis, waste management –waste generated, treatment, disposal and exportation- at the company.
	Others None.

Disposal/ Recovery Facilities

Disposal facilities Environmental Affairs, General Commission For the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment & Wildlife manages Hafira Industrial Landfill Site for Industrial hazardous and semi-hazardous wastes, for Dl operations. Recovery/recycling/re-use facilities Bahrain Recycling Plant, Askar - P.O. Box: 26390, Aluminum dross recycling, for R4 operations; AluServ Middle East W.L.L., Manama - P.O. Box: 519, Aluminum dross recycling, for R4 operations; Bahrain Scrapmould, Manama - P.O.Box : 1208, Recovery of Aluminum and metals scrap, for R4 operations; Crown Industries & Crown Metals, Manama - P.O. Box: 11101, Recovery of Aluminum and metals scrap, for R4 operations; and Falcon Factory, Recovery of waste paper.

Bilateral, Multilateral or Regional Agreements

Regional agreement with the Regional Organization for the protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME), effective from July 2001, on the Control of Marine Transboundary Movement and Disposal of Hazardous Waste and other Wastes.

Technical Assistance and Training Available

The available sources are Environmental Affairs, General Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment & Wildlife and University of Bahrain.

Basel Convention

Country Fact Sheet