Publication Type

Report

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

9-2025

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of key domestic and international regulations on US hazardous waste exports, focusing on shifts in export destinations and waste types from 2002 to 2023. Since 2005, OECD countries and US Trade Agreement Partners have become primary destinations for US hazardous waste, with significant surges after 2018 and a notable decline in 2022. An analysis of the regulatory landscape reveals that, while international frameworks such as the Basel Convention of 2021 have had a relatively limited impact on reducing US hazardous waste exports, domestic policies—particularly those in California—have more directly influenced export behaviors. Additionally, the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 has contributed by incentivizing the development of clean energy infrastructure, leading to increased battery production and recycling requirements, thereby impacting hazardous waste flows. The study also explores how the Paris Agreement indirectly influenced hazardous waste exports by accelerating the transition to electric vehicles, thus increasing demand for lead and battery recycling. This paper underscores the complexities of managing dangerous waste under fragmented regulations and highlights the need for stronger global standards and investment in local recycling infrastructure to minimize environmental risks associated with waste exports.

Keywords

hazardous waste exports, Basel Convention, Inflation Reduction Act, environmental policy, recycling infrastructure, trade regulations, OECD, battery recycling, electric vehicles, sustainability governance

Discipline

Environmental Studies | Health Economics

First Page

1

Last Page

18

Publisher

Sim Kee Boon Institute for Financial Economics

City or Country

Singapore

Embargo Period

10-15-2025

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