The principle of self-sufficiency in waste disposal established within EC policy is that the community as a whole should become self-sufficient, with member states moving towards that aim individually, taking into account geographical circumstances or the need for specialised installations for certain types of waste. The Basel Convention (under UNEP auspices) on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal requires parties to ensure adequate disposal facilities to the extent possible and minimisation of transboundary movement of hazardous and other wastes, consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes. The Basel Convention, however, clearly contemplates the transboundary movement of hazardous and other wastes if the State of export does not have the technical capacity or necessary facilities to dispose of the wastes in an environmentally sound and efficient manner.
Ireland supports all of these principles and is ordering its waste policies accordingly.