On Tuesday 13th of July 2021 the research team entrusted by the OPFA WASTE consortium to carry out a research on Transfrontier Shipments of Waste gathered for the first time to kick off a data analysis process with unprecedented potential.
Adverse impacts of waste shipments on the environment are directly related to an increase in waste production combined with a fast globalization of the economy, leading to growing volumes of waste shipped across borders. Transfrontier Shipments of Waste, although regulated by the Basel Convention, the OECD Decision and implemented within the European Union through several Directives, are still regulated at national level by not homogeneous procedures, allowing Organised Crime Groups to thrive and make illicit profits.
The proposed study will look into waste shipments recording systems of targeted MSs of strategic importance, since representing the main European geographical areas: Italy for the Mediterranean, Romania for Est Europe, Latvia for the Baltic area, Spain for the Atlantic area and the Netherlands representing Central Europe. A team of dedicated experts supported by national competent authorities will analyse data referred to the respective waste import/export flows, intra and extra EU, in order to define the risk related to the different routes and countries of destination, as well as the waste repatriation paths with a focus on the quantity and type of waste not repatriated/lost.
The research, initiated by several police authorities under the initiative of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and taking advantage from Europol support, is financed under the OPFA WASTE Operational Facility.
The Facility is accessible to all Member States Law Enforcement Agencies meeting the criteria outlined in the Terms of Reference, available upon request via info@opfawaste-project.eu.
The OPFA WASTE team will keep you posted on future activities.
Stay tuned and head over to our Twitter account @opfawaste!