“E-waste is exported from developed countries to developing countries, typically for re-use, repair or recovery of materials. However it must be recognized that very often the export takes place to avoid costs of more diligent environmentally sound management at home by allowing the waste management to take place in weaker economies that are not likely to possess the infrastructure and societal safety nets to prevent harm to human health and the environment.  

[BAN Comment:  If we are discussing motivation for export, this must be mentioned as it is a prime motivation – externalizing costs.   Cheap labor always is accompanies [sic] by a commensurate lack of resources in a country to maintain and monitor high standards of management. ]”

From p. 5 of response by BAN to Basel Secretariat. 2010. ‘Draft Technical Guidelines on Transboundary Movement of E-Waste, in Particular Regarding the Distinction between Waste and Non-Waste (Version 22 September 2010)’. http://www.basel.int/Implementation/Ewaste/TechnicalGuidelines/DevelopmentofTGs/tabid/2377/Default.aspx.

“[...] we [Norway] are concerned the possibility of using repair centre as a loophole to circumvent the [Basel] Convention.We therefore identify a need for further clarification on the term ‘repair centre’”

From p. 1 of Norway’s response to Basel Secretariat. 2010. ‘Draft Technical Guidelines on Transboundary Movement of E-Waste, in Particular Regarding the Distinction between Waste and Non-Waste (Version 22 September 2010)’. http://www.basel.int/Implementation/Ewaste/TechnicalGuidelines/DevelopmentofTGs/tabid/2377/Default.aspx.