"Whether we're diligent separators or hurl everything in landfill, few people consider that their trash will become treasure for Europe's criminal gangs. But that's the reality across the continent, with the EU's law enforcement agency, Europol, warning that "waste trafficking is intensifying with a projected further growth in scale and sophistication" in their 2025 "Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment." Despite that, Europol refused to answer a series of questions from DW on the matter, citing other priorities."
"Much of this intensification comes from criminal gangs. These operate by finding ways to bypass domestic and commercial waste disposal contracts, exploiting those open to corruption at all stages of the waste disposal process, falsifying documents and crossing borders to take advantage of slacker law enforcement. It is a black market Europol describe as "low-risk high-profit margin" for criminals. These groups are a mix of traditional organized crime networks and opportunistic legal businesses exploiting inefficiencies and loopholes."
"The issue was highlighted recently by the discovery of an enormous mountain of garbage hidden away close to the Thames River in Oxfordshire, England. On Wednesday, it was reported that the 6-meter (20-foot) high pile contained evidence of waste from schools and local authorities, suggesting abuse of waste management contracts with state institutions and sub-contracted legitimate companies. But this is not a problem limited to the UK."
Europol warns that waste trafficking in Europe is intensifying and is projected to grow further in scale and sophistication. Criminal gangs and opportunistic legal businesses bypass domestic and commercial waste contracts, exploit corruption, falsify documents and cross borders to exploit weaker enforcement. The illegal waste trade offers low-risk, high-profit margins and involves both traditional organized crime and subcontracted legitimate companies. A 6-meter pile of mixed institutional waste found near the Thames in Oxfordshire indicates abuse of contracts with schools and local authorities. OLAF estimates 15–30% of waste shipments might be illegal, implying a market worth billions.
Read at www.dw.com
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