Combatting waste crime

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Introduction

 

According to Interpol, environmental crime is a serious and growing international problem which includes both pollution-based crime and wildlife crime leading to serious, adverse effects on the planet, biodiversity and human life.

Waste crime is an environmental crime which exploits the physical features of waste, the complexity of the collection and downstream infrastructure and the market opportunities for profit. Given that waste crime is often regarded as victimless or unknown crime, in most cases it remains unreported or uncovered. However, some indication of the extent and significance of waste crime has been reported by through the work of the EU Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL). The causes of waste crime are various:

  • Problematic legislation and weak enforcement
  • Increased costs of legal operations in the wake of higher environmental standards for treatment
  • Price inelasticity of waste
  • Complexity of business and actors (see below: Waste crime as a ‘white collar’/corporate crime)
  • Natural and physical characteristics of waste (i.e. waste can be mixed and disguised)