The document also examines the actions of criminal organizations and companies involved in illegal waste trade.
Flaws in legislation and weak law enforcement create conditions for criminals to reap high profits without facing punishment.
"Our research shows that detecting illegal waste trade and subsequently investigating such cases remains extremely challenging," said UN representative Candice Welsh.
Global Threat
It is noted that criminal groups are involved in illegal waste operations worldwide – from small local violations to large-scale international trafficking. Corporations are also widely involved in this area: some ignore the rules, others pay for illegal services, and some combine legal and illegal activities.The research shows that both organized crime groups and companies use corruption to conceal illegal waste within legal flows, bypassing inspections through fraud. Methods include document forgery, extortion, theft, embezzlement of public funds, abuse of power, and money laundering.
"Penalties for illegal waste trade are often minimal, while the profits can be enormous. Moreover, the cost of illegal disposal of toxic waste is significantly lower than the expenses for legal disposal. This creates financial incentives for committing crimes in this area," experts note.
Inconsistent sanctions across different countries allow offenders to "choose convenient jurisdictions" where weak control measures and less stringent penalties are in place.
The report points out that illegal dumping, burning, and transportation of waste occurs everywhere, especially when it comes to moving less valuable and difficult-to-dispose-of waste from highly developed countries to low-income countries.
By directing waste to states where safe handling is problematic, this leads to serious consequences for public health and the environment.
Management representatives emphasize that improving information exchange and coordinating sanction policies will help more effectively track illegal waste flows and hold offenders accountable.
Photo on the main page is illustrative: who.int.
