The environmental politics of the international waste trade
Global trade in toxic wastes accelerated during the 1980s, driven by high potential profits made possible through the combination of: (1) dramatic increases in waste generation, (2) the public NIMBY (Not-In-My-Back-Yard) syndrome which blocks new disposal facilities in Western nations, and (3) very different regulatory climates for waste management among countries. Since 1986, proposals to ship wastes internationally total an estimated 163 million tons. Half of the approximately 10 million tons of toxic waste actually shipped since 1986 have been between industrialized countries to established landfills, incinerators, or recyclers. However, developing and eastern bloc countries received almost 5.2 million tons of the total exported. These recipients do not have the appropriate technical infrastructure, nor legal and administrative controls, to safely manage toxic wastes. No exporting country, importing country, nor international treaty adequately regulates, or even monitors, these transboundary movements. The toxic waste trade is a case which bears out the pollution haven' hypothesis: that less stringent environmental regulations will attract development of especially polluting products and processes to poorer nations.
- Research Organization:
- Tufts Univ., Medford, MA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 5580771
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
TOXIC MATERIALS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
TRANSFRONTIER POLLUTION
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
TRADE
COOPERATION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
POLLUTION
290300* - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety