Once properly collected and sorted, many wastes have a positive value on the recycling market. Then, they can be traded, which may lead to shipments to other countries. In order to avoid losing control on what happens next with the waste (remember the many scandals in the 80s), these transfers are regulated by the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (link). This convention entered in force in 1992 and applies the “Prior Informed Consent” procedure, according to which all the concerned countries (export, transfer, import) must give their authorization for any shipment to take place legally. The exporter has a duty to take back waste shipments that are found to be illegal or cannot be treated as intended (including the recovery or disposal of waste).