Basel Convention

CZECH REPUBLIC

Status of Ratification/Accession/Acceptance/Approval:	30.09.1993 (a)
Ratification of the Amendment to the Basel Convention:	28.02.2000

Competent Authority	Focal Point
Ministry of Environment, Waste Management Department Vrsovicka 65, CZ-10010 Prague 10 tel: [phone] fax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] web site: www.env.cz	Same as the Competent Authority

National Definition

According to the Act on Waste No. 185/2001 Coll., “waste” means any movable thing in the categories set out in Annex 1 to the Act, which a person discards or intends or is required to discard. According to the Act on Waste No. 185/2001 Coll., Decree of the Ministry of the Environment No. 381/2001 Coll., “hazardous waste” means waste featured on the List of hazardous waste and any other waste displaying one or more hazardous characteristics. List of hazardous wastes and the hazardous characteristics corresponds to the respective EU legislation. However, due to structural differences between the list of hazardous wastes and Annex I of the Basel Convention it is not possible to specify in detail which of these wastes are additional to Annex I of the Basel Convention. This definition of hazardous waste is used for the purposes of implementing the Basel Convention amendment (ban on export for recovery to countries to which the OECD Decision does not apply). The control procedures for other transboundary movements of waste are not based on the definition of hazardous waste, but on the system established by the respective EU legislation (Council Regulation 259/93). Transboundary movements of all wastes (both hazardous and non-hazardous) for final disposal are controlled unless they are prohibited. Wastes destined for recovery operations subject to transboundary movements are allocated to one of three lists – Green, Amber and Red List of Wastes. Vast majority of wastes listed in Amber and Red List normally exhibits hazardous characteristics. Wastes listed in Green List normally do not exhibit hazardous characteristics.

Transboundary movements of wastes listed in Amber and Red List as well as of wastes, which have not been assigned to any of above-mentioned Lists are controlled unless they are prohibited. Transboundary movements of wastes listed in Green List are not controlled with the exception of three items: GB030 Aluminium skimmings; GC040 Motor vehicles wrecks drained of liquids; and GK020 Used pneumatic tyres. For environmental and public health reasons, the exports and imports of these wastes are controlled, although these wastes are normally not hazardous.

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	2 603 337 **
	Total amount of other wastesgenerated	4 258 000 ^1)
Transboundary Movement	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesexported	5 339 ^2)
	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesimported	20 268 ^3)

* 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 household wastes (Y46).

2) Consists of the total amount of hazardous wastes under Art. 1 (1)a (Annex I: Y1-Y45) exported: 1 716 mt + total amount of hazardous wastes under Art. 1 (1)b exported: 3 623 mt.

3) Consists of the total amount of hazardous wastes under Art. 1 (1)a (Annex I: Y1-Y45) imported: 1 956 mt + total amount of hazardous wastes under Art. 1 (1)b imported: 18 312 mt.

Restrictions on Transboundary Movement	Amendment to the Basel Convention The amendment to the Basel Convention (Decision III/1) has been implemented in Czech Republic.
	Restrictions on export for final disposal Czech Republic restricts the export of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal. The relevant legislation is the Act on Waste No. 185/2001 Coll., Decree of the Ministry of Environment No. 381/2001 Coll., in force from 1 January 2002. All exports of wastes (both hazardous and non-hazardous) for final disposal are prohibited except those to EU Member countries and EFTA Countries, which are also Parties to the Basel Convention.
	Restriction on export for recovery Czech Republic restricts the export of hazardous wastes and other wastes for recovery. The relevant legislation is the Act on Waste No. 185/2001 Coll., Decree of the Ministry of Environment No. 381/2001 Coll., in force from 1 January 2002.All exports of hazardous wastes and other wastes for recovery are prohibited to countries to which the OECD Council Decision C(92)39/FINAL does not apply. The wastes in question corresponds the relevant EU legislation.
	Restrictions on import for final disposal Czech Republic restricts the import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal. The relevant legislation is the Act on Waste No. 185/2001 Coll., in force from 1 January 2002. All imports of waste (both hazardous and non-hazardous) for final disposal are prohibited.
	Restrictions on import for recovery Czech Republic restricts the import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for recovery. The relevant legislation is the Act on Waste No. 185/2001 Coll., in force from 1 January 2002. All imports of waste (both hazardous and non-hazardous) for energy recovery are prohibited. All imports of waste for material recovery are prohibited except those from countries to which the OECD Council Decision C(92)39/FINAL applies and countries, which are Parties to the Basel Convention or with which the Czech Republic has concluded agreements or arrangements in accordance with Article 11 of the Basel Convention.
	Restrictions on transit Czech Republic has no restrictions on the transit of hazardous wastes and other wastes.

Reduction and/or Elimination of Hazardous Waste Generation	National strategies/policies State Environmental Policy (1999-2005); National Environmental Management Programme; National Eco-labelling Programme; and National Programme of Cleaner Production.
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines Act on Waste No. 185/2001 Coll.; Waste Management Plan of the Czech Republic; and Regional Waste Management Plans (in preparation).
	Economic instruments/ initiatives Following programmes of the State Environmental Fund: Programme for Promotion of Best Available Techniques (BAT); Programme for Promotion of Environmental Management; Programme for Decontamination and Reclamation of Old Landfills; Programme for Promotion of Recovery and Final Disposal of Waste; and Programme for Elaboration of Waste Management Conceptions. Programme of the Czech Moravian Guarantee and Development Bank: Promotion of EMAS in Small and Medium Enterprises. Obligatory fee for landfill of waste, consisting of basic component for depositing of waste and risk component for depositing of hazardous waste. Obligatory financial reserve for reclamation of landfills.
	Measures taken by industries/waste generators Implementation of cleaner production projects. Implementation of environmental management systems (EMS/EMAS).

Transboundary Movement Reduction Measures	National strategies/policies State Environmental Policy (1999-2005); Waste Management Plan of the Czech Republic (in preparation); and Regional Waste Management Plans (in preparation)
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines Act on Waste No. 185/2001 Coll.
	Economic instruments/ initiatives Following programmes of the State Environmental Fund: Programme for Elaboration of Waste Management Conceptions; Programme for Promotion of Best Available Techniques (BAT); Programme for Promotion of Environmental Management; and Programme for Promotion of Recovery and Final Disposal of Waste. Programme of the Czech Moravian Guarantee and Development Bank: Promotion of EMAS in Small and Medium Enterprises According to Act on Waste, obligatory financial guarantee covering the costs of re-import and disposal, when a transboundary movement cannot be completed, is required.
	Measures taken by industries/waste generators Implementation of Cleaner production projects. Implementation of environmental management systems (EMS/EMAS).

Disposal/ Recovery Facilities

Information could be obtained from “Statistical Environmental Yearbook of the Czech Republic”, edited by the Czech Statistical Office, Ministry of Environment and Czech Environmental Institute (published annually). For further information: T.G.Masaryk Water Management Research Institute, Centre for Waste Management, Podbabská 10, CZ-16000 Prague 6.

Bilateral, Multilateral or Regional Agreements

OECD Council Decision, C(92)39 /FINAL, concerning the control of transfrontier movements of hazardous wastes destined for recovery operations.

Technical Assistance and Training Available

The available sources are: Czech Cleaner Production Centre, Boticska 4, CZ-12800 Prague 2; T.G.Masaryk Water Management Research Institute, Centre for Waste Management, Podbabska 10, CZ-16000 Prague; National Institute of Public Health, Srobarova 48, CZ-10042 Prague 10; and Czech Environmental Institute, Kodanska 10, CZ-10010 Prague 10.

Basel Convention

Country Fact Sheet