IMSBC Code section 10: carriage of solid wastes in bulk
The IMSBC provisions on solid bulk wastes, the Basel Convention notification gate at section 10.4 and the classification cascade at section 10.6.
Section 10 of the IMSBC Code governs the carriage of solid wastes in bulk, and it exists because the transboundary movement of wastes threatens human health and the environment. Section 10.2.1 defines wastes for the section’s purposes as solid bulk cargoes containing or contaminated with one or more constituents subject to the Code’s provisions for classes 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 6.1, 8 or 9, for which no direct use is envisaged but which are carried for dumping, incineration or other disposal. Section 10.3.2 excludes material contaminated with radioactive material, which goes to the radioactive provisions instead.
Section 10.4 is the Basel Convention gate. Movement may commence only when notification has been sent by the competent authority of the country of origin to the country of final destination, and when that origin authority, holding written consent from the destination stating the wastes will be safely disposed of, has authorized the movement. Section 10.5 requires a waste movement document to accompany the shipment through to disposal.
Classification follows a cascade at section 10.6: a single-constituent waste is regarded as that cargo; a multi-constituent waste is classified by its dangerous characteristics, by measurement or calculation or else by the predominant hazard; and where constituents fall in two or more classes the IMDG Code’s order of precedence applies. Section 10.8 routes segregation to sections 9.3.3 and 9.3.4. The full article will cover each provision and the reporting duty at section 10.9.