Customs authorities across the globe joined forces recently to root out the illegal shipment of hazardous waste, with emphasis on plastic waste as well as ozone depleting substances (ODS).
During the 30-day World Customs Organisation (WCO) global enforcement operation, waste of electric and electronic equipment, plastic waste, metal scraps, waste vehicle parts and municipal waste was confiscated.
While metal-based slag and waste rubber decreased significantly in the number of cases and quantity reported compared to last year, the number of seizure cases of e-waste tripled. And although plastic waste increased two fold in terms of the number of cases, the total quantity dropped to one seventh of the amount recorded in 2018. However, plastic waste still constituted 23% of total commodities seized.
Various illegal methods were used to circumvent Customs controls. These included mainly misdeclarations and misdescriptions, as well as abuse of licences.
