Role of the Basel and Bamako Conventions in the Fight Against Wastes in Africa

There is a global problem, nowadays, and the activities of the entire world community aimed to resolve it, namely, the environmental pollution with various types of chemicals and hazardous wastes on the African continent. The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1989) and the African Union’s Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa (1991) are important in the management and resolution of some of the most serious problems in Africa that the world community is struggling with, including African States, which will be discussed in this very chapter, namely, the movement (import, export) of hazardous, toxic wastes and their disposal, illegal trafficking, environmental pollution, and damage to the life and health of the population of the African continent. Despite their special role in ensuring the environmental protection from the spread of toxic wastes, since the actions came into force, they have not resolved issues related to improving methods for the disposal of hazardous wastes, with the encouragement of Member States to properly manage toxic wastes. To solve the problem in this area, African States need to implement international legal provisions into their national legislations, and they can also regulate at the legislative level the movement, disposal, and recycling of hazardous wastes collected by type, hazard class, and other characteristics. The chapter analyzes the existing problems in African States, as well as the activities of actors at the international and national levels aimed at solving problems related to the proper management of hazardous wastes.