Press Release
December 19, 2025
- Waste & Recycling
Outcome of the Asian Network Workshop for Prevention of Illegal Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes 2025
1. The Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan, co-organized the Asian Network Workshop for Prevention of Illegal Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes 2025 with the Basel Convention Regional Centre for South-East Asia (BCRC-SEA) and the Ministry of Environment, Indonesia (KLH) in Surabaya, Republic of Indonesia, from December 9 to 11, 2025. The workshop brought together competent authorities and focal points to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal from across Asia.
2. This workshop facilitated an exchange of information on the status of national responses to the amendments to the Annexes to the Basel Convention concerning electrical and electronic waste (e-waste). Participants also shared information on import and export control regulations governing the transboundary movement of plastic waste, as well as policies and technologies aimed at establishing and promoting the environmentally sound management for some emerging waste streams, such as spent lithium-ion batteries.
3. Additionally, participating countries shared updates on the latest status of their national regulations related to the import and export control of hazardous waste, discussed countermeasures to prevent illegal trade, and reaffirmed the importance of continued regional collaboration in Asia to combat illegal transboundary movement of hazardous waste.
■ Overview
(1) Date
December 9 -11, 2025
・ December 9 -10: Asian Network Workshop
・ December 11: Site visit
(2) Venue
Surabaya, Republic of Indonesia
(3) Organizers
Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan
Basel Convention Regional Centre for South-East Asia (BCRC-SEA)
Ministry of Environment, Indonesia (KLH)
(4) Participants
・Competent authorities and focal points to the Basel Convention from 12 countries and regions in Asia: Republic of Indonesia, Kingdom of Cambodia, Republic of Singapore, Kingdom of Thailand、Republic of the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, Malaysia, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Japan. From Japan, representatives from the Industrial and Hazardous Waste Management Division, Environmental Regeneration and Resource Circulation Bureau, MOE, and the GX Policy Group of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) participated.
・Representatives from Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention, Basel Convention Regional Centre for South-East Asia (BCRC-SEA), Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (BCRC China), the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), Indonesian Customs, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the secretariat of the Asian Network participated also participated.
(5) Agenda
December 9 -11, 2025
・ December 9 -10: Asian Network Workshop
・ December 11: Site visit
(2) Venue
Surabaya, Republic of Indonesia
(3) Organizers
Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan
Basel Convention Regional Centre for South-East Asia (BCRC-SEA)
Ministry of Environment, Indonesia (KLH)
(4) Participants
・Competent authorities and focal points to the Basel Convention from 12 countries and regions in Asia: Republic of Indonesia, Kingdom of Cambodia, Republic of Singapore, Kingdom of Thailand、Republic of the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, Malaysia, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Japan. From Japan, representatives from the Industrial and Hazardous Waste Management Division, Environmental Regeneration and Resource Circulation Bureau, MOE, and the GX Policy Group of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) participated.
・Representatives from Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention, Basel Convention Regional Centre for South-East Asia (BCRC-SEA), Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (BCRC China), the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), Indonesian Customs, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the secretariat of the Asian Network participated also participated.
(5) Agenda
■ Workshops in FY2025
(1) Date
December 9 -11, 2025
・ December 9 -10: Asian Network Workshop
・ December 11: Site visit
・ December 9 -10: Asian Network Workshop
・ December 11: Site visit
(2) Venue
Surabaya, Republic of Indonesia
(3) Organizers
Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan
Basel Convention Regional Centre for South-East Asia (BCRC-SEA)
Ministry of Environment, Indonesia (KLH)
Basel Convention Regional Centre for South-East Asia (BCRC-SEA)
Ministry of Environment, Indonesia (KLH)
(4) Participants
・Competent authorities and focal points to the Basel Convention from 12 countries and regions in Asia: Republic of Indonesia, Kingdom of Cambodia, Republic of Singapore, Kingdom of Thailand、Republic of the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, Malaysia, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Japan. From Japan, representatives from the Industrial and Hazardous Waste Management Division, Environmental Regeneration and Resource Circulation Bureau, MOE, and the GX Policy Group of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) participated.
・Representatives from Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention, Basel Convention Regional Centre for South-East Asia (BCRC-SEA), Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (BCRC China), the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), Indonesian Customs, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the secretariat of the Asian Network participated also participated.
・Representatives from Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention, Basel Convention Regional Centre for South-East Asia (BCRC-SEA), Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (BCRC China), the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), Indonesian Customs, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the secretariat of the Asian Network participated also participated.
(5) Agenda
1. Opening
Welcome addresses were delivered by the organizers: MOE, BCRC-SEA, and KLH.
2. Country updates of the implementation of the Basel Convention - With a focus on response to e-waste amendment -
Participants exchanged information on the status of national responses to the amendments to the annexes concerning e-waste and trends in the transboundary movement (TBM) of e-waste, based on the results of a questionnaire survey conducted prior to the workshop. Furthermore, participating countries also shared updates on the development of legal frameworks for domestic implementation of the e-waste amendments and discussed challenges encountered in their implementation.
3. Control on TBM and the ESM of plastic waste
Following an introductory presentation by the Asian Network Secretariat on the results of a questionnaire survey regarding the status, challenges, and best practices related to the implementation of the amendments to the annexes on plastic waste, participating countries shared information and discussed their respective regulations on the TBM of plastic waste and efforts to ensure the environmentally sound management (ESM).
4. Sharing of policies and technologies for developing and promoting ESM
BCRC-SEA presented key challenges related to ensuring ESM in Asia, along with the results of a questionnaire survey. Subsequently, participating countries shared information on policies and technologies for establishing and promoting ESM for specific waste streams, including solar panels and lithium-ion batteries. Relevant organizations also presented initiatives aimed at promoting ESM in Asia.
5. Site visit and exchange of views
Participants visited a paper manufacturing company (PT Tjiwi Kimia Tbk.) and a waste-to-energy plant (TPA Benowo), followed by exchanges of views with company representatives.
Welcome addresses were delivered by the organizers: MOE, BCRC-SEA, and KLH.
2. Country updates of the implementation of the Basel Convention - With a focus on response to e-waste amendment -
Participants exchanged information on the status of national responses to the amendments to the annexes concerning e-waste and trends in the transboundary movement (TBM) of e-waste, based on the results of a questionnaire survey conducted prior to the workshop. Furthermore, participating countries also shared updates on the development of legal frameworks for domestic implementation of the e-waste amendments and discussed challenges encountered in their implementation.
3. Control on TBM and the ESM of plastic waste
Following an introductory presentation by the Asian Network Secretariat on the results of a questionnaire survey regarding the status, challenges, and best practices related to the implementation of the amendments to the annexes on plastic waste, participating countries shared information and discussed their respective regulations on the TBM of plastic waste and efforts to ensure the environmentally sound management (ESM).
4. Sharing of policies and technologies for developing and promoting ESM
BCRC-SEA presented key challenges related to ensuring ESM in Asia, along with the results of a questionnaire survey. Subsequently, participating countries shared information on policies and technologies for establishing and promoting ESM for specific waste streams, including solar panels and lithium-ion batteries. Relevant organizations also presented initiatives aimed at promoting ESM in Asia.
5. Site visit and exchange of views
Participants visited a paper manufacturing company (PT Tjiwi Kimia Tbk.) and a waste-to-energy plant (TPA Benowo), followed by exchanges of views with company representatives.
Contact
Industrial and Hazardous Waste Management Division, Environmental Regeneration and Resource Circulation Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan
- Representative number
- +81-3-3581-3351
- Direct number
- +81-3-5501-3157
- Director
- OHKAWA Masato
- Deputy Director
- SENOO Kohei
- Section Chief
- MARUO Akiko
