Modus Operandi in Waste Crime and Violations
Irregular documentation
- Missing documents (i.e. identification documents, travel documents, authorisations) or lack of a permit
- Incomplete paper work and administrative errors
- False declaration of waste types (including misclassification and partial declaration).
- False declaration of waste as non-waste or not declared at all. Indicatively, toxic sludge passed as an agricultural fertilizer
- Mislabelling and forged documents
Illegal exports and imports of waste
- Lack of required treatment of waste for import or export. Indicatively, valid license for plastics waste import but the stock at stake is contaminated with chemicals substances which cannot be recycled or reused.
- Online illegal waste trade
- Breach of import and export bans (i.e. Exports of used goods without notification)
Interrelated illegal activities
- Smuggling
- VAT fraud in exporting wastes
- Tax fraud and evasion. Indicatively, frauds involving recycling fees and landfill taxes.
- Illegitimately claims of money through government-backed Producer Compliance Schemes for collecting and recycling waste that in reality the company at stake had never handle