When does plastic waste becomes a secundairy raw material? How to proof a ship has become a waste stream at the end of its life? How to improve reporting of waste shipments inspection data?
These, and more topics were on the agenda during the LIFE SWEAP Best Practive meeting, 27 and 28 September 2022 in Slovenia, hosted by the Inspectorate for Environment and Spatial Planning (IRSOP). More than 45 inspectors from a range of EU-countries joint the event to take part in discussions and a field visit to the port of Koper. Slovenian Customs and Port Authorities explained how they target containers possible containing waste, for inspections. Their intervention was followed by a lively discussion on simplyfying certain rules to ship waste and to protect the environment and human health.
Examples of illegal shipments of waste were presented by various colleagues, whereby one shipment declared as waste paper, it was a challenge to actually ‘detect one piece of paper in the load‘. Further, the inspectors took part in a session on the use of the LIFE SWEAP data reporting app; this tool facilitates the collection, visualisation and sharing of data and findings of waste controls, tailored to individual Member States’ requirements.
Frequent moments for regulators in the field, benefit a more common and harmonized understanding and approach to tackle illegal waste trafficking. Best practice meetings are held annually as part of the LIFE SWEAP project.
Successful Joint Customs Training Event
