The Rise of Environmental Crime: A Growing Threat to Natural Resources, Peace, Development and Security

Waste, pollution The global waste sector, valued at at least USD 410 billion a year, 158 takes several forms – firstly a legal industry sustaining business and environ- mental protection, secondly an unreg- ulated sometimes even informal busi- ne , that is important for recycling and job creation as well, but with health risks and challenges of monitoring the safety and sound management. 159 Thirdly, trafficking in hazardous waste and chemicals by organized crime.

Global illegal waste tra c

Eastern Europe and Russia c

Global illegal waste tra c Global illegal waste tra c

Eastern Europe and Russia

Eastern Europe and Russia Eastern Europe and Russia

Russian Federation Russian Federation

Western Europe Western Europe

Lithuania

Western Europe

Lithuania

Ukraine

Lithuania

Croatia

Ukraine

Croatia

Albania

Ukraine

Syria

Croatia

Albania

Tunisia

Syria

Iraq

Russian Federation

Tunisia

Egypt

Jordan

Albania

Iraq

S

Egypt

Jordan

Lithuania

Tunisia

Senegal

Eritrea

Burkina Faso Benin Burkina Faso Benin

Guinea

Senegal

Egypt

Jo

Ghana

Djibuti

Eritrea

Ukraine

Guinea

Nigeria

Ghana

Liberia Côte

West Africa West Africa

Djibuti

roatia

Nigeria

Somalia

Cameroon

d'Ivoire

Liberia Côte

Uganda

Somalia

Congo Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea Cameroon

d'Ivoire

Senegal

Uganda

Kenia

Albania

Djib Eritrea

Congo Burkina Faso Benin

Guinea

Tanzania

Kenia

Ghana

Syria

Tanzania Nigeria

Angola

Liberia Côte

West Africa

Iraq The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions are the primary instruments for tracking and managing hazardous waste and chemicals, along with other initia- tives such as the UN Solving the E-waste Problem (StEP) Initiative on electronic waste. Waste is often deliberately classified as other items to bypass or deceive law enforce- ment authorities. This is often done by using non-haz- ardous waste codes for hazardous wastes or using product codes for hazardous wastes or disguised as second hand goods. Key destinations for large-scale shipments of hazardous wastes, such as electrical and electronic equip- ment, include Africa and Asia, and lack of resources for monitoring or control of an emerging market makes it a low-risk business also for organized crime. This, in turn undermines both the reputation and competitive situation for both legal businesses and informal businesses alike, where the legal businesses have the by far highest costs due to environmental guidelines and health protection of employees and of handling and tracking toxic material. Jordan Somalia Djibuti Eritrea

S

Angola

Cameroon

d'Ivoire

Pakistan

Uganda

China

Egypt

Equatorial Guinea

Kenia

Congo

South Africa

Tanzania

India

Hong Kong South Africa

Hazardous waste producers Million tonnes Hazardous waste producers Million tonnes

Main tra cking destination Main tra cking destination

Country where illegal waste export has been proven Country where illegal waste export has been proven

More than 30 10 to 30 5 to 10 1 to 5 Less than 1 No data available More than 30 10 to 30 5 to 10 1 to 5 Less than 1 No data available

A gol

Vietnam

Region of destination Region of destination

Region of origin Region of origin

Main route Main route

Thailand

a

62 Eastern Europe and Russia c meroon al Guinea Uganda

C ARTOGRAPHY BY R ICCARDO P RAVETTONI ©GRID-A RENDAL 2015 C ARTOGRAPHY BY R ICCARDO P RAVETTONI ©GRID-A RENDAL 2015

Malaysia South Africa

Hazardous waste producers Million tonnes Figure 10: Illegal trafficking ro t s of hazardous waste.

Main tra cking destination

Country waste ex

Kenia

More than 30 10 to 30

ngo

Indonesia