Despite the growing interest in illicit waste trafficking (IWT), studies that empirically address the issue are still few. Mostly, they fail to present in-depth analysis of the different stages of ...

Features of transnational illicit waste trafficking and crime prevention strategies to tackle it

Our understanding of illicit waste trafficking (IWT) is in its embryonic stages; most notably, the transnational nature of this phenomenon has hitherto been neglected in extant empirical research. ...

The Global Waste Trafficking and Its Correlates

Status quo of illegal dumping research: Way forward.

The concept of sustainable development was introduced in Europe by the Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) and was extended to waste management in the Waste Framework Directive. In order to achieve sustainable development, hazardous waste (HW) must be managed safely and in accordance with regulations. This also applies to worldwide HW transport, especially when HW is shipped for disposal. The United Nations, through the Basel Convention, aims to prevent the export of HW from developed countries to developing countries for disposal. In Europe, HW shipments are regulated by Regulation (EC) No. 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and by the Council of 14 June 2006 on shipments of waste. Additionally, all HW shipments must be in accordance with two principles contained in the Waste Framework Directive: proximity and self-sufficiency. Using data from 2014 and network analysis methodology, this paper fills the gaps in the scientific literature by looking at how shipments of HW travel for disposal in Europe, how the regulations affect these shipments and how GDP per capita influences the shipment of waste. The results show that countries with a high GDP per capita play an important role in the network (having the highest in-degree) and that the absence of landfill taxes for HW does not influence HW shipments for disposal. Therefore, countries in the EU act in accordance with the proximity and self-sufficiency principles.

https://repositorio.usj.es/bitstream/123456789/601/1/Understanding%20hazardous%20waste%20exports%20for%20disposal%20in%20europe.pdf

Understanding hazardous waste exports for disposal in europe: A contribution to sustainable development

Studies of environmental crime suggest that its causes fall into three broad groups, concerning the high costs of legal waste management, aspects of the international context, and some effects of or inadequacies in regulation. This paper reviews the literature and then introduces and applies a method to look in greater depth at vulnerabilities that the waste management business offers for crime. It suggests that some current and quite contingent developments open up prospects for higher standards and for a reduction in irregularities and illegalities in waste management.

Reducing vulnerabilities to crime of the European waste management industry: the research base and the prospects for policy

Evidence shows that waste crimes, principally trafficking, are facilitated by unclear regulatory frameworks. Indeed, lax legislation can unintentionally generate crime opportunities. The aim of this study is to combine criminological and legal knowledge to identify loopholes in the waste regulatory frameworks of the European Union and Italian government. A crime proofing analysis was conducted to identify vulnerabilities in the selected waste legislation. Results indicate the existence of three macrocategories of loopholes: the legal framework, the supply chain, and the justice response system. Policy implications involve the necessity to simplify the language in waste legislation, to create effective measures via which to improve the traceability of waste, and to provide law enforcement authorities with adequate training and technological resources to perform inspection activities. Given the transnational nature of illicit waste trafficking, international cooperation is integral for fighting this crime type.

Margaux Morganti

Papers

Illicit Waste Trafficking and Loopholes in the European and Italian Legislation