Through the support of the OPFA Waste Operational Facility, a pilot research project on “Transfrontier shipments of waste” was carried out aimed to collect and analyse data to possibly identify waste movements’ trends, criminal modus operandi and suspicious shipments.
The report, finalised in April 2022, listed several conclusions and recommendations to improve data collection and recording processes, type of data collected and the need to use them for targeted purposes. Indeed, a significant outcome has been that data collection, recording and management require significant improvement (at least across the five countries participating to the pilot research – Italy, Romania, Latvia, Spain, Netherlands) in order to perform sound and robust analyses and to make intelligence information available to LEAs and decision makers.
Research Aims
In light of the results emerged from the research, this follow-up activity was designed to
build on the identified gaps and turn them into results. The current study therefore aims
to:
- Present and describe an ideal standard dataset structure for collecting and systematizing waste shipment-related information from all EU MSs, to be structured on the basis of inputs and information collected from relevant authorities of EU MS.
- Draft guidelines for the collection and management of such information.
- Identify and describe best practices already in place in place in EU MSs regarding data collection and management of relevant information.
SWEAP Data Reporting App
Representatives of the LIFE SWEAP project were consulted as well and the SWEAP Data Reporting App was identiified as a good example of how data can be collected and the data fields required. The report also stated that the LIFE SWEAP app is a way to support a wider and uniform EU approach. In this context the work of the European Commission should also be noted on the Electronic Data Interchange for the Submission of Waste Shipment Documents and Information.
Further reading
- Guidelines and Best Practices to Build an Ideal Dataset, N.Isarin and A. Castagnetti, OPFA-Waste Project (30 October 2022)
- Cross-border Shipments of Waste, Pilot Research, N.Isarin and A. Castagnetti, OPFA-Waste Project (27 April 2022)
Continued Exchange of Best Practices on Waste Shipment Controls
