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New Rules for E-Waste Are Coming.

By: Sonia
Date:-
2024-12-27

New Rules for E-Waste Are Coming: Here’s What Pittsburgh Businesses and Agencies Need to Know

If your Pittsburgh-based business or agency generates significant amounts of electronic waste (e-waste), 2025 will bring major changes to how you handle it. Starting January 1, 2025, new rules under the Basel Convention will regulate not just hazardous e-waste but also non-hazardous e-waste—a move that will impact how e-waste is managed and exported globally.

While the United States is not a party to the Basel Convention, these changes still matter because many of the countries your organization might work with do follow Basel rules. Ignoring these regulations could result in compliance challenges, data security risks, and missed opportunities for responsible e-waste management.

Here’s what’s changing and how your organization can prepare.

What Are the 2025 Basel Amendments?

1. New Category for Non-Hazardous E-Waste

Non-hazardous e-waste—think old laptops, printers, and cell phones—will now fall under the Basel Convention’s controls, categorized as Y49. Until now, only hazardous e-waste (like batteries or mercury-containing devices) was regulated.

2. Expanded Rules for Hazardous E-Waste

Existing rules for hazardous e-waste are becoming stricter, now listed under A1181, which provides broader coverage for materials previously under A1180.

3. Global Trade Will Be More Complex

Exporting e-waste, hazardous or not, will require Prior-Informed Consent (PIC), meaning:

Exporters must notify their government about planned shipments.
Every country involved must approve the shipment before it proceeds.

For businesses in the US, which isn’t a Basel Party, this adds an extra layer of complexity when exporting to Basel-compliant countries.

Why This Matters for Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s small to medium-sized businesses, government agencies, and county services often generate significant e-waste from IT upgrades, public projects, and daily operations. Improper disposal or export of this e-waste can:

Lead to compliance issues with international regulations.
Create data security risks if sensitive information isn’t properly destroyed.
Miss opportunities to recycle or refurbish equipment to benefit local communities.