On 14th November, DEFRA has published the independent review of serious and organised waste crime and its effects, and making recommendations on a strategic approach to waste crime. One of its comments is that waste exports provide ample opportunity for organised criminals to operate at scale, with a veil of legitimacy and with limited probability of detection. It says that The UK does not generally export waste for disposal, except for relatively small quantities of hazardous waste such as mercury, which requires specialist disposal – the majority of UK waste is exported for (intended) recycling under the Green List Controls. With the exception of hazardous waste exports, which require prior approval from the UK competent authorities, data on the majority of UK waste exports is poor. One recommendation is that a Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC) should be established. It highlights the problems of “waste brokers”, whose lack of regulation leaves the system in which they operate open to abuse by organised criminals.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/serious-and-organised-waste-crime-2018-review
