Watchdogs tap int’l body over trash

shutterstock

MANILA — Watchdog groups asked an international body to intervene in the complaint against Canada’s exportation of household wastes in the country.

The move is following the alleged failure of the government to file a complaint against Canada.

Basel Action Network (BAN) and BAN Toxics alleged that Canada violated the Basel Convention after it allowed the exportation of household wastes to the Philippines.

The said convention was ratified in 1992 by Canada and in 1993 by the Philippines.

It “aims to protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects resulting from the generation, transboundary movements and management of hazardous waste and other wastes.”

”Canada has admitted to us that it has failed to properly implement the Basel Convention. This means that they are not in compliance and that has resulted in significant economic and environmental harm to the Philippines,” said BAN executive director Jim Puckett.

The watchdog groups said that  the wastes transported to the country by a Canadian private firm are classified as Convention Annex II waste.

They further noted that  the Canada failed to transpose their international treaty obligations into domestic law. This is following the absence of domestic laws which should have controlled their garbage.

The groups endorsed the complaint to the secretariat since only the secretariat, the the country out of compliance (Canada), or the impacted country (Philippines) can bring the case to the convention’s special committee.