After six years of dedicated efforts, the LIFE SWEAP Project has officially come to an end. The primary objective of the project was to bolster the EU’s response to illegal waste trafficking by equipping environmental regulators and law enforcement agencies with the tools and strategies to detect, disrupt, and prevent this harmful practice.
The SWEAP team has now published a Layman’s Report alongside a project video, highlighting the significant achievements and milestones reached during the project’s duration.
Illegal waste shipment and mismanagement constitute a lucrative, pervasive, and ever-growing global crime. Widely recognised as a high-profit, low-risk endeavour, this illegal activity remains notoriously difficult to detect, investigate, and prosecute.
However, when waste is properly controlled and sustainably managed, it becomes a valuable resource with immense environmental benefits. By recycling waste and utilising it as secondary materials in place of virgin resources, we can actively contribute to a more circular economy. Unfortunately, illegal traders – including organised crime groups – deliberately circumvent existing safeguards and regulations, resulting in environmental crimes both within the EU and in third countries. This “waste trafficking” undermines the principles of a circular economy and has dire consequences for both environmental and human health.
Waste trafficking is a large-scale global issue. Within the EU alone, it is estimated that between 15% and 30% of waste shipments may be illegal, generating an illicit waste market worth EUR 9.5 billion annually.
In response, the EU has taken decisive action by tightening regulations aimed at preventing unsound waste management and environmental crime. The EU’s Waste Shipment Regulations (WSR) include several key measures, such as requiring Member States to conduct waste shipment inspections and cooperate with each other to combat illegal activities.
Moreover, the EU’s increased efforts align with a broader regulatory shift on the global stage, reflected in international agreements such as the Basel Convention, the Hong Kong Convention, and other global initiatives dedicated to tackling waste trafficking.
The conclusion of the LIFE SWEAP Project marks a significant milestone in the fight against illegal waste trafficking, and the insights gained will continue to influence policies and practices aimed at protecting the environment and public health. IMPEL will continue some of SWEAP’s work under its Enforcement Actions Project. More about the future of SWEAP, can be found in the SWEAP After-LIFE plan.
Request for Tender to host and develop a secure and GDPR compliant application for the recording of European waste shipment inspections 
