1
Angela Giuffrida,“’ Triangle of Death’: Will Italy finally tackle mafia’ s toxic waste dumping?” The Guardian, February 18, 2025, https:// www. theguardian. com / world / 2025 / feb / 18 / triangle-of-death-will-italy-finally-tackle-mafias-toxic-waste-dumping
2
Ibid.
Concerning the transportation of hazardous waste within the EU, prior consent by all authorities from the countries concerned ― including transit ― will have to take place before the shipment arrives. 29
Dangerous waste exports to non- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development( OECD) countries are already banned. However, starting in May 2027, this will include nonhazardous waste, with exceptions granted based on conditions. As of January 1, 2025, the export of e-waste to non-OECD nations is prohibited. Beginning in November 2026, this will apply also for plastic. 30
To counter fraudulent documentation and aid in investigations, all paperbased declarations will be substituted with electronic ones that must be uploaded to a central EU system. The platform will go live in May 2026. 31
A step in the right direction
While not perfect, the WSR is a step toward safeguarding both the environment and public health. It is especially a long overdue update that acknowledges the real-world consequences of unchecked waste trafficking.
The regulation reflects a growing recognition that environmental crime must be met with coordinated action and not fragmented oversight.
The EU also understands that the WSR cannot remain static and must be updated to reflect shifts in criminal tactics and global waste markets. A revision of the regulation is expected by December 31, 2035. 32
Its success will ultimately depend on how well member states, institutions and enforcement bodies work together to uphold and adapt the regulation in the years to come.
3
Ibid.
4
Ibid.
5
“ Money Laundering from Environmental Crime,” Financial Action Task Force, July 2021, https:// www. fatf-gafi. org / content / dam / fatf-gafi / reports / Money-Laundering-from-Environmental-Crime. pdf. coredownload. pdf
6
“ UNODC Joins the ENFORCE coalition against waste trafficking,” United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, https:// www. unodc. org / unodc / en / frontpage / 2022 / October / unodc-joins-the-enforcecoalition-against-waste-trafficking. html
7
Lukasz Kuta, Justyna Hachol, Aleksandra Wdowczyk, et al.,“ Impact of Fires at Illegal Waste Storage Sites on Soil Contamination ― A Study of Five Cases from Poland,” MDPI, November 6, 2023, https:// www. mdpi. com / 2071-1050 / 15 / 21 / 15645
8
Wojciech Ciesla and Paulo Pena,“ Authorities struggle to track Europe’ s illegal waste trade,” Investigate Europe, May 4, 2023, https:// www. investigate-europe. eu / posts / authorities-struggle-to-track-europes-illegal-waste-trade
9
Ibid.
10
Ibid.
11
Ibid.
12
Ibid.
13
Ibid.
14
Ibid.
15
“ Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the Implementation of Regulation( EC) No 1013 / 2006 on shipments of waste generation …” European Commission, March 17, 2023, https:// eur-lex. europa. eu / legal-content / EN / TXT / PDF /? uri = CELEX: 52023DC0142
16
“ Spain busts group that smuggled thousands of tonnes of electronic waste to Africa,” France24, January 3, 2023, https:// www. france24. com / en / europe / 20230103-spain-busts-group-that-smuggledthousands-of-tonnes-of-electronic-waste-to-africa
17
Ibid.
18
Enno Hinz,“ How European trash illegally ends up in Southeast Asia,” DW, April 17, 2024, https:// www. dw. com / en / how-european-trash-illegally-ends-up-in-southeast-asia / a-68850068
19
“ Turning the Tide: A Look Into the European Union to Southeast Asia Waste Trafficking Wave,” United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2024, https:// www. unodc. org / documents / bmb / environmentalcrime / FINAL _ for _ printing _- _ Turning _ the _ tide. pdf
20
Enno Hinz,“ How European trash illegally ends up in Southeast Asia,” DW, April 17, 2024, https:// www. dw. com / en / how-european-trash-illegally-ends-up-in-southeast-asia / a-68850068
21
“ 13 persons arrested for illegally disposing 35,000 tonnes of hazardous waste,” Europol, February 14, 2025, https:// www. europol. europa. eu / media-press / newsroom / news / 13-persons-arrested-for-illegally-disposing-35000-tonnes-of-hazardous-waste
22
Ibid.
23
“ Illegal waste trade: What’ s driving this multi-billion dollar transnational crime and what could stop it?” Basel Institute on Governance, July 16, 2021, https:// baselgovernance. org / news / illegal-waste-trade-whats-driving-multi-billion-dollar-transnational-crime-and-what-could-stop
24
Katie Olley,“ Illegal waste shipment: An overview,” The Veolia Institute Review, Special Issue 23, 2021, https:// journals. openedition. org / factsreports / 6565
25
“ Waste Shipments,” European Commission, https:// environment. ec. europa. eu / topics / waste-and-recycling / waste-shipments _ en
26
Ibid.
27
“ OLAF Launches Enforcement Group to Tackle Illegal Waste Shipments,” European Anti-Fraud Office, May 23, 2025, https:// anti-fraud. ec. europa. eu / media-corner / news / olaf-launches-enforcement-group-tackle-illegal-waste-shipments-2025-05-23 _ en
28
“ Waste Shipments,” European Commission, https:// environment. ec. europa. eu / topics / waste-and-recycling / waste-shipments _ en
29
Ibid.
30
Ibid.
Stefano Siggia, CAMS, senior consultant, Pideeco, Belgium, stefano @ pideeco. be,
31
Ibid.
32
Analoli Del Cueto Menendez,“ Decoding the New EU Waste Shipment Regulation,” Ohana, July 23, 2024, https:// ohanapublicaffairs. eu / 2024 / 07 / 23 / waste-shipment-regulation-update-2024 / ACAMS Today | September – November 2025 77