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30 results foundAuthor: Kangaspunta, Kristiina Title: Eco-Crime and Justice: Essays on Environmental Crime Summary: The aim of this publication is to provide a bridge between, on the one hand, eco-crime, pollution, climate change and the deriving social conflicts, and, on the other, the areas of criminal justice, human rights and environmental rights. The authors hope to contribute to the articulation of a global research agenda on environmental crime; a research agenda based on commitment to the following three principles: (1) Recognition of the value of evidence-based policy making; (2) Willingness to appreciate the importance of theoretical insights drawn from different disciplines to guide policy, and (3) Concern with balancing human and ecological rights. Details: Turin, Italy: UNICRI, 2009. 121p. Source: Year: 2009 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 118320 Keywords: Environmental CrimeOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: Shelley, Tara O'Connor Title: Environmental Threat, Environmental Crime Salience, and Social Control Summary: The research explores whether perceptions of environmental threat influence support for environmental controls. To fulfill this purpose, the research builds on social threat and social control theory, which initially emphasized the putative threat of minorities as a factor that can influence mechanisms of social control. I argue the relevance of threat for social control can be more broadly understood and that social threats can have a variety of origins. Indeed, there are a number of threats that may be posed by various environmentally sensitive factors such as hazardous waste disposal, industrial pollution, and chemical spills. Using national survey data collected in the spring of 2002, I assess whether perceptions of environmental threats and environmental crime salience are related to support for social control. Since it is plausible that respondents can experience different dimensions of environmental threat, I examine three variations—threats perceived at the general or global level, threats that impact individual health and safety, and the proximity of environmental threats. I also consider two separate types of social control. The first examines support for criminal justice controls, while the second explores support for conservation/policy oriented forms of control. The research findings indicate that perceptions of environmental threat significantly increase support for environmental controls. More specifically, it appears that when environmental threats are proximate and personal, individuals are consistently more willing to endorse the use of punitive criminal justice controls. Conversely, people are not willing to support the use of punitive sanctions for general environmental threats that have no immediate or direct impact on them. In that context, conservation controls are consistently viewed as the appropriate form of control. The salience of environmental crime is also a consistent predictor of conservation and punitive controls. Details: Tallahassee, FL: Florida State University, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2006. 257p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed September 2, 2011 at: http://etd.lib.fsu.edu/theses/available/etd-07052006-174753/ Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://etd.lib.fsu.edu/theses/available/etd-07052006-174753/ Shelf Number: 122611 Keywords: Offenses Against the EnvironmentPollutionSocial Control Theory |
Author: Faure, Michael G. Title: Law and Economics of Environmental Crime: a Survey Summary: In the economic analysis of law, much attention has been paid to the instruments to be used for the control of environmental pollution. However, lawyers seem to focus mainly on environmental standards (emission standards and quality standards) and on the question of how these standards should be set, whereas economists (mostly interested in environmental economics) focus mainly on 'economic instruments' (emission trading and taxes). Environmental law is often categorised as administrative law. However, in practice the whole body of environmental law is, to a large extent, also criminal law. The usual way in which environmental law is structured consists of the imposition on industry of specific administrative requirements, specifying the permissible amounts and quality of polluting emissions, and the punishment, as environmental crimes, of violations of these requirements. In legal literature, much attention has been paid to the way in which the law should use penal sanctions to deter environmental pollution, but environmental criminal law has not, so far, been very often subjected to an economic analysis. The goal of this paper is to provide an overview of the way in which traditional theories on the economics of crime have been applied to environmental criminal law. We will therefore begin by addressing the question of why, according to the economist literature criminal law should at all be used to deter environmental pollution. An inevitable question in that respect, obviously, is whether other instruments, such as civil liability, would not suffice for the deterrence of environmental pollution (§ 2). In addition, we will address the manner in which the literature on the economics of crime relates to environmental pollution (§ 3). The paper also looks at what the optimal penalties for environmental pollution would be (§ 4). Moreover, in practice it can be observed that there is an increasing interest in administrative penal law. Hence, the question arises as to why, in some cases, administrative law might provide better results than criminal law (§ 5). In addition, given that environmental crimes are committed mostly within the corporate sphere, it is necessary to ask whether criminal law should be applied to companies and/or to individual actors. (§ 6). Thus, our paper attempts to provide a survey of the literature concerning the way in which criminal law has been, and can be, used in the fight against environmental pollution. Details: Zurich: Swiss Institute of Technology, 2003. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2011 at: http://www.hertig.ethz.ch/LE_2004_files/Papers/Faure_Environmental_Crime.pdf Year: 2003 Country: International URL: http://www.hertig.ethz.ch/LE_2004_files/Papers/Faure_Environmental_Crime.pdf Shelf Number: 122588 Keywords: Economics of CrimeOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: Transform Drug Policy Foundation Title: The War on Drugs: Causing Deforestation and Pollution Summary: Examining a range of environmental issues surrounding the war on drugs, the briefing includes several case studies as well as sections on: •The futility of drug crop eradications •The aerial fumigation of drug crops, a practice that is still permitted in the world’s second most biodiverse country, Colombia •The deforestation that occurs as law enforcement drives drug crop producers into ever more remote and ecologically valuable regions •The pollution caused by unregulated, illicit drug production methods While some of the consequences of the war on drugs are relatively well known and understood by those aware of the issue, the environmental impacts of current drug policy are seldom given proper consideration. This must change. As this briefing outlines, if these environmental costs are to be minimised or avoided, alternative forms of drug control must be explored. Details: London: Transform Drug Policy Foundation, 2011. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 12, 2012 at: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/Environment-briefing.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/Environment-briefing.pdf Shelf Number: 123591 Keywords: Crop EradicationDeforestationDrug ControlDrug PolicyEnvironmentPollutionWar on Drugs |
Author: Fröhlich, Tanja Title: Organised environmental crime in a few Candidate Countries Summary: The study at issue investigates organized environmental crime in the five Accession Countries: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania and Poland. The study encompasses: a numerical evaluation of cases of organised environmental crime in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania and Poland; an analysis of the legal environment concerning organised environmental crime in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania and Poland; a review of the enforcement structures concerning organised environmental crime in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania and Poland. The following sectors are covered: illegal commercial trade in endangered species and their products; illegal pollution, dumping and storage of waste, including transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste; illegal commercial trade in ozone depleting substances; illegal dumping and shipment of radioactive waste and potentially radioactive material; illegal logging and illegal trade in wood; and illegal fishing. Details: Kassel, Germany: BfU, 2003. 625p. Source: Final Report: Internet Resource: Accessed March 2, 2012 at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/legal/crime/pdf/organised_candidate_countries.pdf Year: 2003 Country: Europe URL: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/legal/crime/pdf/organised_candidate_countries.pdf Shelf Number: 124362 Keywords: Endangered SpeciesEnvironmental Crime (Czech Republic) (Estonia) (HuIllegal FishingIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimePollution |
Author: Bosello, Francesco Title: The Economic and Environmental Effects of an EU Ban on Illegal Logging Imports. Insights from a CGE Assessment Summary: Illegal logging is widely recognized as a major economic problem and one of the causes of environmental degradation. Increasing awareness of its negative effects has fostered a wide range of proposals to combat it by major international conservation groups and political organizations. Following the 2008 US legislation which prohibits the import of illegally harvested wood and wood products, the European Union (EU) is now discussing a legislation proposal which would ban illegal timber from the EU market. In this study we use the ICES computable general equilibrium model to estimate the reallocation of global demand and timber imports following the pending EU legislation. With this exercise our final objective is to assess the economic impacts and measure the potential emission reduction resulting from the introduction of this type of policy. Results show that while the EU ban does not seem particularly effective in reducing illegal logging activities, its main effect will be the removal of illegal logs from the international markets. In addition, the unilateral EU ban on illegal logs increases secondary wood production in illegal logging countries as their exports become relatively more competitive. Through this mechanism, part of the banned, illegal timber will re-enter the international trade flows, but it will be “hidden” as processed wood. This effect is, however, limited. Finally, given the limited effect on overall economic activity, effects on GHG emissions are also limited. Direct carbon emissions from logging activities can decrease from 2.5 to 0.6 million tons per year. Details: Venice: Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), 2010. 34p. Source: FEEM Working Paper 67.2010: Internet Resource: Accessed March 17, 2012 at http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1627988## Year: 2010 Country: Europe URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1627988## Shelf Number: 124567 Keywords: EconomicsIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: Benson, W. Title: The Effectiveness of Enforcement of Environmental Legislation Summary: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking a stakeholder consensus on the nature and scale of problems which may be affecting enforcement of environmental regulations. As part of that process in September 2005 it commissioned WRc to: • gather and analyse evidence to identify and define obstacles to efficient and effective enforcement of environmental regulations in England and Wales; • describe, in an objective way, any significant obstacles; and • establish criteria which possible solutions would need to achieve to overcome such obstacles. In addition to underpinning productive discussion of the issues, the assessment was also intended to assist the production of Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) for any proposals for regulatory change. To cover a range of enforcement processes, regulators and regulated activities in a structured and systematic way, the study focused on five carefully selected Case Study Areas (CSAs): • Integrated Pollution Prevention & Control (IPPC), Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) and Local Authority Pollution Control (LAPC). • Water Quality. • Waste Management. • Noise. • Wildlife (species and habitat protection). The legislative framework, identifying the specific offences and regulatory powers that are relevant to the CSAs, is set out in Appendix A. Relevant previous work on the effectiveness of, and barriers to, enforcement was identified by literature search. Additionally, further data (both on the five CSAs, and of more general relevance) were sought and analysed, covering: • pollution incidents and actions taken (data from the Environment Agency); • fly-tipping (data from Defra); and • prosecutions and sentences (data from the Home Office and other sources). A number of statistical and other analytical techniques were applied to these data, as described in detail in appendices to the report. The information gained was examined, not only to obtain specific information about the five CSAs, but also – in the light of that obtained about environmental enforcement generally – to identify common themes and issues. Details: Swindon, UK: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 2006. 163p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 21, 2013 at: http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/policy/enforcement/pdf/envleg-enforce-wrcreport.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/policy/enforcement/pdf/envleg-enforce-wrcreport.pdf Shelf Number: 127657 Keywords: Environmental CrimesNoiseOffenses Against the Environment (U.K.)PollutionWildlife Crimes |
Author: Ohlenschlaeger, Jens Peter Title: Reducing ship generated marine litter - recommendations to improve the EU port reception facilities directive Summary: Marine litter is an increasing threat to the health of European and global marine ecosystems, with costly environmental, economic and social consequences. One of the sources to this pollution comes from ships, which legally or illegally discharge their solid waste (waste) into the sea.The EU Port Reception Facilities (PRF) Directive (2000/59/EC) regulates how ships discharge their waste to port reception facilities in the EU. The PRF Directive pursues the same aim as the MARPOL Convention, namely to reduce the amount of pollution in seas and coastlines of Member States caused by ship generated waste and cargo residues discharged into the sea by shipping. The Directive came into force in 2002 and an EMSA study published in 2012 has shown an increase in waste delivery to Member State ports since then. Despite this increase, illegal discharges of ship generated waste into the sea still take place. There are several explanations for this. These include insufficient control and inspection of the ships, and the difficulties in doing so, and a lack of appropriate economic incentives for waste delivery, or indeed, perverse incentives for waste delivery. Little transparency regarding the operation of the waste handling facilities and a lack of clarity in some ports regarding the role and responsibilities of the various actors involved may also be responsible. It has become apparent that the Directive is not prescriptive enough in these respects and clearer guidelines and stricter requirements would be desirable and beneficial for the ports. This is especially true regarding the cost recovery system, as the Directive leaves a lot of room for interpretation, which has resulted in many different systems being implemented across European ports, thereby creating an uneven playing field and allowing less than optimal systems to be implemented. This study recommends that the Directive should be revised to put a stronger focus on: - The applied cost recovery system (degree of indirect fee); - The efficiency of the waste notification system; - The port authority involvement in ship waste handling (taking responsibility, control and monitoring); - The "one stop shop" approach, and - The inspection regime in the port regarding waste delivery. Details: London: Institute for European Environmental Policy, 2013. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 29, 2015 at: http://www.ieep.eu/assets/1257/IEEP_2013_Reducing_ship_generated_marine_litter_-_recommendations_to_improve_the_PRF_Directive.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.ieep.eu/assets/1257/IEEP_2013_Reducing_ship_generated_marine_litter_-_recommendations_to_improve_the_PRF_Directive.pdf Shelf Number: 135424 Keywords: Illegal DumpingLitterMaritime CrimeOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: Veening, Wouter J. Title: Mining gold and mercury pollution in the Guiana Shield: A case study on the role of the EU in fighting environmental crime Summary: This brief report first identifies mercury pollution as a serious and growing threat to global environmental security and the health of the community of life. It then details this threat in the biologically important Guiana Shield ecoregion located in the North East Amazon, bordering the Caribbean, where it is caused by wide-spread informal gold mining. Therefore, the European Union's relevent legal arrangements, lacunae and dilemmas are summarised, also from a criminal law perspective and, finally, conclusions and policy implications for the EU are suggested. Details: The Hague: Institute for Environmental Security, 2015. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: A study compiled as part of the EFFACE project. Accessed August 21, 2015 at: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE%20Mining%20gold%20and%20mercury%20pollution%20in%20the%20Guiana%20Shield_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: South America URL: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE%20Mining%20gold%20and%20mercury%20pollution%20in%20the%20Guiana%20Shield_0.pdf Shelf Number: 136518 Keywords: Environmental CrimeGold MiningOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: D'Alisa, Giacomo Title: Victims in the "Land of Fires": A case study on the consequences of buried and burnt waste in Campania, Italy Summary: The "Land of Fires" indicates an area in Campania, in the south of Italy were, systematically, since the end of the '80s, toxic wastes have been dumped by organized crime (i.e., camorra, the name for the Neapolitan mafia). Organised crime plays, as a matter of fact, a significant role in the waste management industry; however, organized criminals are not the only players. Although in the public opinion the mafia clans are the most important subjects involved in the illegal waste trafficking, a significant role is also played in this field by many businessmen and firms. Corruption is a crucial element that connects all these actors in the waste sector, characterized by the grant of public licenses and authorizations. Moreover, this sector needs large economic investments and has to face a huge bureaucratic machine, which makes the ground even more fertile for corruption. All these conditions hamper the competition and facilitate the creation and the development of oligopolistic forces, where the strength of mafia intimidation turns out to be particularly effective. The weak (or the absolute lack of) enforcement power at both national and regional levels has been used to explain this widespread illegal situation, but responsibilities actually lie at various governance levels, spanning from inefficient bureaucracy to political patronage and criminal malfeasance. Moreover, the lack of adequate (and effectively enforced) waste management policies has created institutional and regulatory uncertainty which fosters the illegal market of waste. On these premises, with the present case study report we aim to investigate how and why some associations and organizations become a reference point for the victims of those waste-related environmental crimes. The victims of the present analysis are not such ex-lege, but are those people who maintain the status of being victims of illegal waste disposal, and that were identified through several semi-structured interviews. An affiliation networks analysis was developed to study how the victims interacted over time with different associations; the findings obtained allows us to say that victims are strengthening their relationships with local associations in the network and are starting to play an important role to reinforce their socio-political and judicial actions and to combat the illegal practices that can considerably affect their lives. Details: Rome: University of Rome, 2015. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Case study compiled as part of the EFFACE project. Accessed August 21, 2015 at: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE%20Victims%20in%20the%20Land%20of%20Fires_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Italy URL: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE%20Victims%20in%20the%20Land%20of%20Fires_0.pdf Shelf Number: 136525 Keywords: Illegal WasteMafiaOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimePollution |
Author: Idriss, Manar Title: Understanding the damages of environmental crime. Review of the availability of data Summary: This deliverable is the conclusion of Task 1 of work package (WP3) of the FP7 research project "European Union Action to Fight Environmental Crime" EFFACE. The aim of WP3 is to understand the impacts (quantitative and monetary) of environmental crime. The purpose of the first task of WP3, Task 1, was to review and collect data on the extent and impact of different types of environmental crime. It was not at this stage to produce estimates of the impact of environmental crime or otherwise quantify that impact - this is the subject of the subsequent tasks of WP3. Rather, Task 1 was to summarise the data sources available for different types of environmental crime and to summarise the type and extent of the data these sources contain. This review would, therefore, form the basis for determining the appropriate next steps in the WP. A standard table was completed for each report, data source, etc. The table asked for clear information about the data source (including links), its location, geographic and temporal scope as well as methodology used for collection. It also asked for information on whether it provides data on the extent of criminal activity (extent, individuals involved, etc.) and whether the data provide information on qualitative, quantitative and monetary impacts on the environment, society and/or economic impacts. In each case, comments were asked on data quality, etc., where possible. The survey of data sources within Task 1 of WP3 of EFFACE showed that the data on environmental crime are usually highly dispersed with limited detailed data collations. The most likely sources of consolidated data are international institutions (such as Conventions and the EU). However, even here data are often limited. For many Conventions data collation is limited to those data reported by Parties and such data are often limited, of uncertain quality and with significant gaps. At EU level there has been limited data gathering on environmental crime (in contrast to other data sets on environmental quality and pressures). Perhaps the best data set at EU level identified concerned fires. While consolidated data sets are uncommon, there are many examples of data on impacts in specific cases, such as for individual countries, individual instances, sites, etc. As a result it is not possible to provide a robust estimate of the overall impacts of environmental crime. There are simply too many gaps for this to be done with any confidence. Even doing this for certain areas of environmental crime is problematic. Therefore, it is important to focus on quantifying the impacts of environmental crime in areas where there are sufficient data for this to be done robustly and with confidence. Following the examination of the data sets described in this deliverable, the following areas were identified as being most suitable for quantitative and economy analysis, given the availability of data: Waste shipment Fisheries Protected areas Fires Marine incidents This quantitative and economic analysis will form the next stages of work of WP3 and the results will be set out in the next WP3 deliverable in April 2015. Details: Berlin: Ecologic Institute, 2014. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 14, 2016 at: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE_3.1%20Final%20Report_0.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Europe URL: http://efface.eu/sites/default/files/EFFACE_3.1%20Final%20Report_0.pdf Shelf Number: 144941 Keywords: Crimes Against the EnvironmentEnvironmental CrimeFisheriesIllegal WastePollution |
Author: Eurojust Title: Strategic project on environmental crime: report Summary: Eurojust is pleased to present this report on the outcome of the Strategic Project (the 'Strategic Project') on Environmental Crime (the 'Report'). Eurojust launched the Strategic Project in spring 2013 on the basis of an intriguing paradox: there was growing evidence of an increasing understanding that environmental crime is a serious crime, often involving a cross-border dimension and organised crime groups (OCGs), while at the same time, statistics on prosecutions of environmental crime in the Member States did not appear to reflect the real impact of this crime. The number of cases referred to Eurojust, at that time, was also very low. A number of project activities carried out during the past year has enabled Eurojust to build significant expertise in the fight against environmental crime, to collect knowledge on the main obstacles as well as best practice when prosecuting environmental crime cases, and to look into possible solutions and the way ahead. This Report presents in its second chapter the project objectives, the methodology used to implement these objectives and the project activities undertaken to achieve these objectives. Based on the different sources of information available, the Environmental Crime Project Team (the Project Team) analysed the main issues in the prosecution and investigation of environmental crime, with a special focus on three topics: trafficking in endangered species, illegal trafficking in waste and surface water pollution. The first two are particularly important today at European Union level and are the focus of a number of EU and international initiatives. The analysis carried out on the three topics mentioned above is described in detail in three chapters. Two separate chapters are subsequently devoted to the national enforcement structure and access to expertise, and to possible solutions and best practice in tackling the challenges identified. In this context, it should be stressed that possibilities for enhanced cooperation among key stakeholders could assist Member States and Eurojust in supporting the investigation and prosecution of environmental crime cases more efficiently. Within this framework, it has already been proven that the partnership established through the Strategic Project between Eurojust and the European Network of Prosecutors for the Environment (ENPE) is particularly successful. In the conclusions, the main findings and challenges identified by the Project Team are presented. Eurojust hopes that the present Report will be instrumental in supporting the current developments and initiatives undertaken at EU and international level in the fight against environmental crime. Additionally, Eurojust believes that this Report could also contribute to raising awareness among practitioners, legislators and policy makers about the serious impact of this important crime phenomenon Details: The Hague: Eurojust, 2014. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 15, 2016 at: http://www.eurojust.europa.eu/doclibrary/eurojust-framework/casework/strategic%20project%20on%20environmental%20crime%20(october%202014)/environmental-crime-report_2014-11-21-en.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Europe URL: http://www.eurojust.europa.eu/doclibrary/eurojust-framework/casework/strategic%20project%20on%20environmental%20crime%20(october%202014)/environmental-crime-report_2014-11-21-en.pdf Shelf Number: 146122 Keywords: Environmental CrimeOffenses Against the EnvironmentOrganized CrimePollutionTrafficking in WasteTrafficking in Wildlife |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) Title: System Failure: The UK's Harmful Trade in Electronic Waste Summary: Electronic waste, or e-waste, is the common term for electronic goods at the end of their 'useful life'. Computers, mobile phones and televisions are all types of electronic goods classified as hazardous waste under the Basel Convention, an international treaty regulating cross-border trade in harmful waste. Due to the proliferation of electronic devices and accelerated technology advances, an increasing amount of e-waste is created every year. It is the fastest-growing waste stream in the UK, with more than one million tonnes generated annually. Globally, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates annual production of e-waste to be 50 million tonnes, of which only 10 per cent is recycled. E-waste can be highly hazardous to both the environment and human health due to the substances it contains. A computer processor has an array of dangerous metals and chemicals such as antimony trioxide, polybrominated flame retardants, selenium, cadmium and mercury. Cathode ray tubes (CRT) found in older-style bulky TVs and desktop computers often contains large amounts of lead. As well as potentially harmful materials, e-waste may also contain small amounts of valuable metals such as gold and copper. A range of regulations at the international, regional and national levels govern trade in e-waste. The intent is to promote safe recycling of broken electronic equipment and to enable legitimate trade in used, working equipment. In reality, huge quantities of discarded e-waste end up being illegally traded around the world. The European Union, despite strong legislation, is a major source of e-waste which is illegally exported and dumped in developing countries. An estimated 75 per cent of e-waste generated in the EU, equivalent to eight million tonnes a year, is unaccounted for. The destination countries do not have the infrastructure to recycle e-waste safely. Instead, it is processed manually in scrap yards with no consideration for health and safety. The e-waste is stripped down to components by hand. Copper wires are bundled and set alight to remove flame-resistant coatings, emitting toxic dioxins; CRT monitors are smashed with hammers, releasing plumes of lead and cadmium dust. After the useful metals are taken out, leftover parts are often dumped in landfills or rivers, or simply burnt. Poverty in countries where e-waste is illegally dumped often leads to young children being involved in breaking down the electronic goods. The potential health consequences for those involved in this kind of work are dire-reproductive and developmental problems, damaged immune, nervous and blood systems, kidney damage and impaired brain development in children. Much of Europe's e-waste ends up in West Africa, especially Nigeria and Ghana. As developing nations' economies grow so does demand for electronic goods, especially good quality secondhand equipment; yet consignments of such equipment arriving in West African ports are mostly e-waste, with about 75 per cent of the electronic units arriving found to be broken. Importers seem willing to bring in containers mostly filled with e-waste because the demand for electronics is so high that buyers are prepared to purchase untested items. The scale of this trade is enormous; in Nigeria's capital, Lagos, half a million computers arrive every month.6 Much of this export from Europe is carried out by West African nationals, often termed 'waste tourists', with family or business contacts in countries such as the UK. Details: London: EIA, 2011. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 17, 2017 at: http://www.greencustoms.org/docs/EIA_E-waste_report_0511_WEB.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.greencustoms.org/docs/EIA_E-waste_report_0511_WEB.pdf Shelf Number: 146294 Keywords: Electronic WasteEnvironmental CrimesIllegal TradeIllegal WasteOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: Serafini, Ludovica Title: The Urgency of a "Green Criminology": A Case Study of Air Pollution, Criminal Activity and Environmental Perception in the South Durban Basin (South Africa) Summary: Goal: With the hope of expanding the criminological horizons beyond the traditional notions of crime, this study investigates how air pollution is affecting people's behavior in the South Durban Industrial Basin (SDIB), South Africa. Through the development of a mixed-method design, the research's aims are: to estimate the possible correlation between air pollution and criminal behavior, and to analyze the social perceptions and attitudes toward the risks of living in a polluted area. Details: Bologna: University of Bologna, 2018. 115p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed October 8, 2018 at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323727165_The_Urgency_of_a_Green_Criminology_A_Case_Study_of_Air_Pollution_Criminal_Activity_and_Environmental_Perception_in_the_South_Durban_Basin_South_Africa Year: 2018 Country: South Africa URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323727165_The_Urgency_of_a_Green_Criminology_A_Case_Study_of_Air_Pollution_Criminal_Activity_and_Environmental_Perception_in_the_South_Durban_Basin_South_Africa Shelf Number: 153504 Keywords: Environmental CriminologyGreen CriminologyOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: International Solid Waste Association Title: Wasted Health: The Tragic Case of Dumpsites Summary: Dumpsites are a global problem. They receive roughly 40% of the world's waste and they serve about 3.5-4 billion people. The 50 biggest dumpsites affect the daily lives of 64 million people, a population the size of France. As urbanization and population growth will continue, it is expected that at least several hundreds of millions more people will be served by dumpsites, mainly in the developing world. Although there is a lack of systematic long-term epidemiological studies that fully document the health impacts from dumpsites, the existing scientific evidence demonstrates very important health risks. The health problems associated with dumpsites are related to their emissions, which usually involve POPs (persistent organic pollutants), heavy metals and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). The actual health risks depend on the practices followed and on the type of the waste disposed of in each dumpsite, as well as on the environmental and social conditions of the area. Open burning and animal feeding increase the health risks substantially, the first by direct emissions of dangerous pollutants and the second by transferring the pollutants to the food chain. Uncontrolled disposal of hazardous and healthcare waste as well as manual on-site treatment and disposal of e-waste by informal workers result in important increases of all the health risks and the negative environmental impacts. ISWA calls upon international organizations, governments and local authorities to develop emergency programs that will identify the riskiest dumpsites and proceed with their closure. ISWA considers the closure of the dumpsites as a global health emergency and it will work closely with all the involved stakeholders to accelerate programs, initiatives and investments that will result in a world free of dumpsites. Details: Vienna, Austria: International Solid Waste Association, 2013. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 7, 2019 at: https://www.iswa.org/fileadmin/galleries/Task_Forces/THE_TRAGIC_CASE_OF_DUMPSITES.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://closingdumpsites.iswa.org/news/news-detail/browse/4/article/wasted-health-the-tragic-case-of-dumpsites/1369/ Shelf Number: 155342 Keywords: DumpsitesIllegal DumpingIllegal Waste DisposalPollutionWaste Disposal |
Author: European Environment Agency Title: Movements of Waste across the EU's Internal and External Borders Summary: Ever more waste is crossing EU borders - moving between Member States and to and from non-EU countries. Indeed, the growth in cross-border waste trade during recent years has been remarkable. Exports of waste iron and steel, and copper, aluminium and nickel from Member States doubled between 1999 and 2011, while waste precious metal exports increased by a factor of three and waste plastics by a factor of five. Similarly, exports of hazardous waste more than doubled in the period 2000-2009. Change at this scale potentially brings significant environmental, social and economic opportunities. Where waste moves across borders it can enable access to recycling or disposal options that are unavailable or more costly in the source country - meaning lower environmental and financial costs for waste management. Equally, trade can increase the opportunities to use waste as a valuable input to production, avoiding the need to draw on virgin resources and thereby enhancing the resource‑efficiency of the economy as a whole. At the same time, of course, moving waste across borders clearly involves costs and risks. Transport itself has environmental impacts, including those resulting from the energy used. Even more important, the destination country must be a willing recipient and equipped to handle the waste safely. Where waste travels across borders illegally the risks can be particularly severe. As the analysis reveals, the huge growth in transboundary waste movements has several causes. EU legislation has certainly played an important role. The introduction of the single market in the EU in 1993 facilitated transboundary movements of goods, including waste. More recently, renewable energy policies have boosted trade in some waste types, for example wood. At the same time, the EU has agreed increasingly stringent and harmonised waste management rules in the last 20-30 years, especially during the last decade. In many cases, these have required countries to find new approaches to waste management, for example diverting substantial amounts of waste from changes, they do necessitate different waste management infrastructure to that used previously; where a region or country lacks such infrastructure, exporting waste to countries equipped with the necessary treatment technology and capacity may represent the best solution for the time being. Global forces have also played an important role in boosting non-hazardous waste exports. Rapid economic growth in some countries has created enormous demand for raw materials, particularly in Asia, at the same time as boosting resource prices globally. As resources have become more costly, the incentive to recycle waste or recover energy via incineration has increased markedly in the EU and outside Europe. Details: Copenhagen: Author, 2012. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: EEA Report No. 7/2012: Accessed April 19, 2019 at: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/movements-of-waste-EU-2012 Year: 2012 Country: Europe URL: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/movements-of-waste-EU-2012 Shelf Number: 155468 Keywords: Environmental CrimeHazardous Waste ProductsOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: European Environment Agency Title: Waste without borders in the EU. Transboundary shipments of waste Summary: This report presents data on waste shipments within Europe and out of Europe (mainly EU countries are covered) for both so called notified waste (mostly hazardous and problematic waste) as well as for non-hazardous waste. It presents drivers for shipments but also gaps that still exist in our knowledge as regards some waste streams (such as e-waste) or what influence shipments have on the environment. It also presents some illegal shipments issues. A main conclusion is that more detailed reporting on waste shipments to the EU Commission would enable us to obtain a better understanding of shipments and their nature. Details: Copenhagen, Author, 2009. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: EEA Report No 1/2009: Accessed April 19, 2019 at: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/waste-without-borders-in-the-eu-transboundary-shipments-of-waste Year: 2009 Country: Europe URL: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/waste-without-borders-in-the-eu-transboundary-shipments-of-waste Shelf Number: 155469 Keywords: Electronic Waste Environmental Crime Illegal Waste Offenses Against the Environment (Europe) Pollution |
Author: Hossain, Shahriar Title: Study on E-Waste: Bangladesh Situation Summary: Introduction Bangladesh indicates a rapid economic growth with emerging market for consumers of electric, electronic gadgets, home appliances. These demands have created a circumstance of increasing amounts of locally produced electronics products and increasing demand for re-using these products. Equipment is largely refurbished and recycled in semiformal and informal sectors. Reuse or recycling or of equipments and as well as dumping are creating risk these days. These electronic wastes might can cause environmental and health hazards. At present, there are lack of awareness and adequate information gap on e-waste hazards in Bangladesh. ESDO has been conducted a research survey in order to address this problem and to create mass awareness and learning initiative on e-waste through a project focusing Dhaka and Chittagong city. This research report has been written based primary data as well as based on the secondary sources of information. This report will give an idea of present situation analysis, gaps and recommendations for way forward. Details: Dhaka, Bangladesh: Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO, 2010. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2019 at: https://www.env.go.jp/recycle/circul/venous_industry/pdf/env/h27/02_4.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Bangladesh URL: https://www.env.go.jp/recycle/circul/venous_industry/pdf/env/h27/02_4.pdf Shelf Number: 155476 Keywords: E-Waste Electronic Waste Environmental Crime Illegal Dumping Illegal Waste Offences Against the Environment Pollution |
Author: Baker, James Title: Pollution in the Ocean: Everything Flows Downhill Summary: In May 2009, the Aquarium brought together a group of leading marine scientists, informal educators, communicators, exhibit designers, and public policy experts to identify and explore major ocean issues and to develop documents and strategies to engage the public in these issues. Support for the conference was provided by NOAA, NSF, Southern California Edison, the Marine Conservation Research Institute of the Aquarium of the Pacific, Kings Seafood, and Santa Monica Seafood. The first four reports - (1) Coastal Hazards, (2) Ecosystems and Fisheries, (3) Critical Condition: Ocean Health and Human Health, and (4) Pollution-are based very loosely on booklets in the National Academies Ocean Science Series which can be found at http://dels.nas.edu/osb. Other reports based upon the conference will be added to this Aquarium of the Pacific website. Details: S.L.: 2009. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2019 at: http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/images/mcri_uploads/Pollution-Ocean.pdf Year: 2009 Country: International URL: http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/mcri/info/pollution_in_the_ocean_everything_flows_downhill/forums Shelf Number: 155478 Keywords: Environmental Crime Green CriminologyIllegal Dumping Illegal WasteMarine PollutionOffences Against the Environment Pollution |
Author: European Commission Title: Final Report: International Oceans Governance - Scientific Support Summary: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the associated targets for achieving them are tailored to create sustainable change in five important areas, namely; People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership. The SDGs officially came into force on 1st January 2016 and, although not legally binding, over the next fifteen years governments are expected to take ownership and create the frameworks to facilitate their implementation and monitor progress as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Specific implementation and success on achieving the SDG Goals will rely on the country's own sustainable development policies, plans and organisations. It is recognised that creating concrete and workable plans at country level will be a challenge and is expected to be a greater challenge for developing countries. Each country will have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review, at the national, regional and global levels, with regard to the progress made in implementing the Goals and targets. The 2016 SDG progress report recognises these challenges, highlighting that "enhancing support to developing countries, in particular the Least Developed Countries and the Small Island Developing States, is fundamental to equitable progress for all". More recently, the high-level United Nations Oceans Conference (5-9 June, 2017) adopted a call for action and provided an opportunity for coastal States to build new partnerships and make voluntary commitments. In addition, the European Union (EU) hosted the 4th edition of the Our Ocean conference in Malta, 5-6 October. This event led to 437 tangible and measurable commitments with a value of EUR 7.2 billion in financial pledges and 2.5 million km2 of additional Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Some of the challenges of implementing the SDGs relate to the need to improve data collection, integrate key aspects of the SDG vision into national plans, and develop robust frameworks for assessing and measuring progress. The latter has been the focus of a UN Inter-Agency Expert Group (IAEG) tasked with developing a global indicator framework for the post-2015 development agenda, and to support its implementation. It is envisaged that this framework will be complemented by regional and national indicators developed by the States. In line with the five important areas, SDG 14 recognises the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and seas and of their resources for sustainable development, including through their contributions to poverty eradication (SDG 1), food security and creation of sustainable livelihoods and decent work (SDG 2), sustained economic growth (SDG ), while at the same time protecting biodiversity and the marine environment and addressing the impacts of climate change and sets targets that aim to promote sustainable use, inclusivity, resilience, and equitable distribution of benefits (SDG 12). In terms of providing support to the countries that might need it most, and specifically relating to SDG 14, a number of initiatives support the SDG agenda, including the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea and the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) Sustainable Ocean Initiative as well as a number of other initiatives under the Commonwealths' Enhancing Ocean Governance Goal and Fisheries Governance and Trade Programmes of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Develop Programme (CAADP). Details: Brussels, Belgium: European Commission, 2018. 264p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2019 at: https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/a52a5f65-832b-11e8-ac6a-01aa75ed71a1/language-en Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.econbiz.de/Record/international-oceans-governance-scientific-support-final-report/10011885678 Shelf Number: 155477 Keywords: Environmental CriminologyGreen CriminologyMarine PollutionOceansOffenses Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: United Nations Environment Programme Title: Environmental Rule of Law: First Global Report Summary: Executive Summary If human society is to stay within the bounds of critical ecological thresholds, it is imperative that environmental laws are widely understood, respected, and enforced and the benefits of environmental protection are enjoyed by people and the planet. Environmental rule of law offers a framework for addressing the gap between environmental laws on the books and in practice and is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Environmental laws have grown dramatically over the last three decades, as countries have come to understand the vital linkages between environment, economic growth, public health, social cohesion, and security. As of 2017, 176 countries have environmental framework laws; 150 countries have enshrined environmental protection or the right to a healthy environment in their constitutions; and 164 countries have created cabinet-level bodies responsible for environmental protection. These and other environmental laws, rights, and institutions have helped to slow - and in some cases to reverse -environmental degradation and to achieve the public health, economic, social, and human rights benefits that accompany environmental protection. The 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment brought the global environment into the public consciousness, leading to the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme. Following the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (known as the Rio Earth Summit), many countries made a concerted effort to enact environmental laws, establish environment ministries and agencies, and enshrine environmental rights and protections in their national constitutions. By the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, the focus had shifted to implementation of environmental laws, which is where progress has waned. Too often, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations falls far short of what is required to address environmental challenges. Laws sometimes lack clear standards or necessary mandates. Others are not tailored to national and local contexts and so fail to address the conditions on the ground. Implementing ministries are often underfunded and politically weak in comparison to ministries responsible for economic or natural resource development. And while many countries are endeavouring to strengthen implementation of environmental law, a backlash has also occurred as environmental defenders are killed and funding for civil society restricted. These shortfalls are by no means limited to developing nations: reviews of developed nations have found their performance on environmental issues lacking in certain respects. In short, environmental rule of law is a challenge for all countries. This Report discusses the range of measures that countries are adopting to address this implementation gap - and to ensure that rule of law is effective in the environmental sphere. As the first assessment of the global environmental rule of law, this Report draws on experiences, challenges, viewpoints, and successes of diverse countries around the world, highlighting global trends as well as opportunities for countries and partners to strengthen the environmental rule of law. The Report highlights the need to undertake a regular global assessment of the state of environmental rule of law. To track progress nationally and globally, it is necessary to utilize a set of consistent indicators. The Report proposes an indicator framework for environmental rule of law and highlights existing datasets that may be utilized in support of the global assessment. The Report also calls for a concerted effort to support countries in pilot testing approaches to strengthen environmental rule of law. Such an initiative could support testing of approaches in diverse contexts, and then adapting them before scaling them up. It should also foster exchange of experiences between jurisdictions to foster learning. In addition to these two cross-cutting recommendations, the Report highlights numerous actionable steps that States can take to support environmental rule of law. For example, States can evaluate the current mandates and structure of environmental institutions to identify regulatory overlap or underlap. States and partners can build the capacity of the public to engage thoughtfully and meaningfully with government and project proponents. They can prioritize protection of environmental defenders and whistleblowers. States may consider the creation of specialized environmental courts and tribunals, and use administrative enforcement processes to handle minor offenses. And there is an ongoing need to research which approaches are effective under what circumstances. The benefits of environmental rule of law extend far beyond the environmental sector. While the most direct effects are in protection of the environment, it also strengthens rule of law more broadly, supports sustainable economic and social development, protects public health, contributes to peace and security by avoiding and defusing confict, and protects human and constitutional rights. As such, it is a growing priority for all countries. Details: New York: United Nations Environment Programme, 2019. 306p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2019 at: https://www.unenvironment.org/resources/assessment/environmental-rule-law-first-global-report Year: 2019 Country: International URL: http://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/27279 Shelf Number: 155481 Keywords: Environmental Crime Environmental Protection Environmental Rule of Law Green Criminology Offences Against the Environment Pollution |
Author: Lundgren, Karin Title: The Global Impact of E-Waste: Addressing the Challenge Summary: Executive Summary Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) is currently the largest growing waste stream. It is hazardous, complex and expensive to treat in an environmentally sound manner, and there is a general lack of legislation or enforcement surrounding it. Today, most e-waste is being discarded in the general waste stream. Of the e-waste in developed countries that is sent for recycling, 80 per cent ends up being shipped (often illegally) to developing countries such as China, India, Ghana and Nigeria for recycling. Within the informal economy of such countries, it is recycled for its many valuable materials by recyclers using rudimentary techniques. Such globalization of e-waste has adverse environmental and health implications. Furthermore, developing countries are shouldering a disproportionate burden of a global problem without having the technology to deal with it. In addition, developing countries themselves are increasingly generating significant quantities of e-waste. This paper explores the volumes, sources and flows of e-waste, the risks it poses to e-waste workers and the environment, occupational safety and health (OSH) issues, labour issues and regulatory frameworks, and links this growing global problem with the International Labour Organisation (ILO)'s current and future work. It is clear that the future of e-waste management depends not only on the effectiveness of local government authorities working with the operators of recycling services but also on community participation, together with national, regional and global initiatives. The solution to the e-waste problem is not simply the banning of transboundary movements of e-waste, as domestic generation accounts for a significant proportion of e-waste in all countries. Fundamental to a sustainable solution will be tackling the fact that current practices and the illegal trade provide economic stimulus. It is important to recognize local and regional contexts and the social implications of the issue; implementing a high-tech, capital-intensive recycling process will not be appropriate in every country or region. Effective regulation must be combined with incentives for recyclers in the informal sector not to engage in destructive processes. Cheap, safe and simple processing methods for introduction into the informal sector are currently lacking; hence, it is necessary to create a financial incentive for recyclers operating in the informal sector to deliver recovered parts to central collection sites rather than process them themselves. Multidisciplinary solutions are vital in addition to technical solutions, as is addressing the underlying social inequities inherent in the e-waste business. Recycling operations in the informal sector of the economy enable employment for hundreds of thousands of people in poverty. A possible entry point to address their negative impacts is to address occupational risks, targeting poverty as the root cause of hazardous work and, in the process, developing decent working conditions. More generally, solutions to the global e-waste problem involve awareness-raising among both consumers and e-waste recyclers in the informal economy, integration of the informal sector with the formal, creating green jobs, enforcing legislation and labour standards, and eliminating practices which are harmful to human health and the environment. It is also imperative to target electrical and electronics manufacturers by introducing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation and encouraging initial designs to be green, long lived, upgradeable and built for recycling. In considering solutions to the e-waste problem, this paper focuses on worker protection through appropriate legislation, formalization of the informal recycling sector and the opportunities represented by cooperative organization of e-waste workers. Details: Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office, 2012. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2019 at: https://www.ilo.org/sector/Resources/publications/WCMS_196105/lang--en/index.htm Year: 2012 Country: International URL: https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_dialogue/---sector/documents/publication/wcms_196105.pdf Shelf Number: 155482 Keywords: E-WasteElectrical WasteElectronic WasteEnvironmental CrimesGreen CriminologyOffences Against the EnvironmentPollution |
Author: Basel Action Network Title: E-Tech: E-Waste Management at EcoPark Summary: This report highlights the special case of e-Tech Management which has been brought to our attention as one of the companies that was recently discovered sending electronic equipment from the US to Hong Kong. e-Tech had been well known to BAN for over a decade as a serial exporter of North American waste with facilities in Ohio and in British Columbia. And it was not surprising to see their export business model continued with our recent tracker placed with them in Texas (see Appendix 1). What was more surprising to us was the realization that e-Tech enjoyed the blessing of the EPD which had featured them at their EcoPark. We decided to do more research. What we have learned is an important story revealing the larger context and longer history far beyond the simple export description. We believe this entire e-Tech picture is worth examining as it is sadly illustrative of the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department's (EPD) lack of proper diligence when it comes to enforcing the environmental laws applicable to e-Waste importation and management. This story raises many questions -- all in need of answers. Details: Seattle, Washington: Basel Action Network, 2018. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2019 at: http://wiki.ban.org/images/2/29/E-Tech_e-Waste_Mismanagement_at_EcoPark.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.ban.org/trash-transparency Shelf Number: 15484 Keywords: E-Tech E-Waste Electronic Waste Environmental Crime Green Criminology Illegal Waste Offences Against the Environment Pollution |
Author: Basel Action Network Title: The Summary: INTRODUCTION The BAN e-Trash Transparency Project In 2016, BAN published its groundbreaking reports entitled "Disconnect: Goodwill and Dell, Exporting the Public's E-Waste to Developing Countries," (May) and "Scam Recycling: e-Dumping on Asia by US Recyclers," (September). These reports followed several years of research, development and implementation of GPS/cell phone-based tracking technology. They involved placing 205 different GPS tracking devices inside of old printers, LCD, and CRT monitors, delivering them to US charities, retailers and recyclers and following them to their endpoints across the globe. Such research activities and subsequent publication of the results can be said to be a form of citizen enforcement because the trade of hazardous wastes, including most electronic waste, to developing countries from developed countries is illegal under international norms (Basel Convention) and under laws of most developed countries. Certainly, under the rules of the Basel Convention, it is illegal for developing countries to import hazardous e-wastes from the United States. 96% of the exports revealed by BAN 's 2016 study were deemed as likely illegal. The study as summarized in "Scam Recycling" witnessed 34% of the 205 deployments moving offshore with 31% of the total going to developing countries. Looking at those that were exported only 93% of the exports went to developing countries. 87% to Asia, 3% to Africa and 1% to the Middle East, and 1% to the Latin America/Caribbean region. 7% moved to the developed countries of Mexico and Canada. Most of the exports ended up in Hong Kong's rural northern area called New Territories. BAN's investigators visited GPS locations where the trackers ended up and found hundreds of e-waste junkyards in New Territories where the hazardous equipment is unfortunately smashed by hand, exposing workers to dangerous mercury laden dust, vapors and hazardous toners. Much of the e-waste was simply dumped in fields and wastelands. Of the 152 trackers delivered directly to recyclers and not to charities, 40% were exported significantly higher than the 15% rate for the 53 trackers delivered to charities or retailers. In the course of the entire pathways (chains) of the 205 tracker movements, the trackers passed through the hands of 168 different identifiable US recyclers. Of these companies, over 45% were part of a movement that went offshore (export chain). That study revealed also that R2 certified recyclers had a higher-than-average export rate. Uncertified recyclers had a lower-than-average export rate, and e-Stewards Certified Recyclers had the lowest average export rate of all three categories. With respect to the Certifications held by the "last holder" (apparent exporter), R2 exceeded e-Stewards 9-1. Finally, the report reveals the false claims and "green washing" of many of the companies that claim that they never would allow the public's waste electronics to be exported. The complete reports and media generated from them, including the PBS Newshour video segment that followed BAN to Hong Kong, can be found on our website's Trash Transparency Project pages. These reports include in detail, a full disclosure of the study findings including lists of all companies involved, the environmental harm caused, methodology, conclusions, and recommendations. BAN's work tracking e-waste in the United States and around the world with GPS trackers continues. BAN's ethical recycling certification program known as e-Stewards now uses trackers routinely to verify performance of the trade requirements in the standard (e.g. no export of hazardous e-waste to developing countries). At the same time, BAN continues to deploy trackers across North America to reveal for consumers and lawmakers alike, the illegal and/or unethical trade practices of some recyclers. It is our intention to continue to report on these trackers. The most recent deployment involved 60 trackers deployed in Texas, Georgia, and Florida in the US. 31 of these were R2 Certified (52%), 4 were both e-Stewards and R2 (6.66%), 1 was eStewards only (1.67 percent), and 24 were uncertified (40%). On September 6 of 2017, the first update of new tracker findings since our September 15, 2016 report was published. In that report we revealed 16 more chains of export (15 LCD monitors and one printer) involving 7 target recycling companies. 5 of these were in California, one in Ohio and one in Texas. An additional two companies (Skill Office Machines and VKL Exports) were also identified. Details: Seattle, Washington: Basel Action Network, 2017. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2019 at: http://wiki.ban.org/images/1/13/TheScamRecyclingContinuesUpdate_1.pdf Year: 2017 Country: International URL: https://www.ban.org/trash-transparency Shelf Number: 155487 Keywords: E-Waste Electronic Waste Environmental Crime Green CriminologyHazardous Waste Illegal Dumping Illegal Waste Offences Against the Environment Pollution Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment WEEE |
Author: Palmer, Hayley Title: Illegal Export of e-Waste from Australia: A Story Told by GPS Trackers Summary: In September and October of 2017 BAN deployed 35 pieces of non-functional electronic waste equipment including CRT monitors, LCD monitors and printers with GPS trackers imbedded within them across Australia. All of the equipment qualified under the Basel Convention as hazardous waste. 14 units of equipment were deployed in the Brisbane area, 13 in the Sydney area, 3 in Adelaide, and 5 in Perth. Out of these 35 trackers 2 were exported (5.71%), 1 moved to a seaport and was likely exported (2.86%), 11 moved to a Recycler (31.4%), 4 moved to a landfill (11.4%), 7 never moved, (20%), 6 had no signal after delivery (17.1%) and 2 moved to an unknown location (5.71%). 2 are still reporting regularly and the rest have gone quiet, meaning they could be bulldozed into a landfill, buried deep in a warehouse, or shredded or disassembled by a recycler. Exports from OfficeWorks -- Three of the devices appear to have been exported, with two definitely going to Hong Kong's New Territories area. Both of these were LCDs monitors from the Brisbane area and one of these was later re-exported to an e-waste processing facility in Thailand. The two exported LCDs were deployed at different OfficeWorks stores in the Brisbane area. Officeworks' "Bring I.T Back" as a "Drop Zone" location is an official Australian Government public drop-off location that the public is encouraged to use for their electronic recycling. Officeworks, according to their website, considers itself to be a very sustainable company. The third device, another LCD left at Endeavor Foundation Industries, another government approved e-waste dropoff location, last signaled at a container dock at the port of Brisbane and was likely exported- though it has yet to signal again. Site Visits BAN traveled to the two locations in Asia where the two exported LCDs ended up. Both of these, without showing any other stopping points after their respective OfficeWorks deliveries, were joined in one intermodal container and shipped to the Ping Che area of New Territories, Hong Kong. Ping Che is an infamous area of Hong Kong for e-waste trafficking where most commonly undocumented laborers are involved in the crude and harmful breakdown of the equipment, often exposing them to dangerous toner dust, and, in the case of LCDs -- the toxic metal mercury. However, when we visited the location a few months after the arrival of the LCDs, there was no trace of e-waste in the facility - apparently, it had been cleaned out and one of the tracked devices stopped signaling. The other one, however, we visited its second location in Thailand. In Thailand that LCD monitor arrived at a location that was involved in crude smelting of circuit boards, creating deadly dioxins and furans, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Illegal Exportation There can be little doubt that these exports were illegal due to the fact that all three countries concerned, Australia, China (including Hong Kong), and Thailand are all parties to the Basel Convention. Due to the presence of mercury in the backlights of these LCD monitors and the lead in the circuit boards of the monitors, and because the equipment was rendered non-functional, the equipment was clearly a hazardous waste under the definitions of the Basel Convention. As such, all exports would require that they be notified prior to export by the government of Australia and consented to by the initially receiving government of Hong Kong. Thailand, in recent weeks, has made it abundantly clear that they are not happy receiving e-waste imported illegally en masse to primitive processing facilities that have been springing up all over their territory following China's own importation ban (see Current Trends in the e-Waste Trade). Details: Seattle, Washington: Basel Action Network, 2018. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2019 at: http://wiki.ban.org/images/7/7c/Australian_e-Waste_Report_-_2018.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://www.ban.org/trash-transparency Shelf Number: 155489 Keywords: AustraliaE-Waste Electronic Waste Environmental Crime Green CriminologyHazardous Waste Illegal Dumping Illegal Waste Offences Against the Environment Pollution Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment WEEE |
Author: Macfadyen, Graeme Title: Abandoned, Lost or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear Summary: Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is a problem that is increasingly of concern. Various United Nations General Assembly resolutions now provide a mandate for, and indeed require, action to reduce ALDFG and marine debris in general. Consequently, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) entered into an agreement to carry out a study in relation to ALDFG in order to raise awareness of the extent of the problem and to recommend action to mitigate the problem of ALDFG by flag states, regional fisheries management bodies and organizations, and international organizations, such as UNEP, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and FAO. This report reviews the magnitude and composition of ALDFG, and while noting that information is not comprehensive and does not allow for any global estimates, suggests that gillnets and fishing traps/pots may be the most common type of ALDFG, although netting fragments may also be common in some locations. The impacts of ALDFG are also considered and include: continued catching of target and non-target species (such as turtles, seabirds and marine mammals); alterations to the benthic environment; navigational hazards; beach debris/litter; introduction of synthetic material into the marine food web; introduction of alien species transported by ALDFG; and a variety of costs related to clean-up operations and impacts on business activities. In general, gillnets and pots/traps are most likely to "ghost fish" while other gear, such as trawls and longlines, are more likely to cause entanglement of marine organisms, including protected species, and habitat damage. The factors which cause fishing gear to be abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded are numerous and include: adverse weather; operational fishing factors including the cost of gear retrieval; gear conflicts; illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing; vandalism/theft; and access to and cost and availability of shoreside collection facilities. Weather, operational fishing factors and gear conflicts are probably the most significant factors, but the causes of ALDFG accumulation are poorly documented and not well understood. A detailed understanding of why gear is abandoned, lost or discarded is needed when designing and tailoring effective measures to reduce ALDFG in particular locations. A variety of measures are currently in place to reduce ALDFG, and these are profiled in this report. They include those which are preventative or ex-ante, and those which are curative or ex-post. Evidence suggests that while both are important, much of the emphasis to date has been placed on curative measures such as gear retrieval programmes and clean-up of beach litter, while preventative measures may generally be more cost-effective in reducing ALDFG debris and its impacts. This report concludes with a number of recommendations for future action to reduce ALDFG debris, be it on a mandatory or voluntary basis. It also considers at what scale and which stakeholders (e.g. international organizations, national government, the private sector, research institutions) might be best placed to address the wide range of possible measures to reduce the amount of ALDFG debris. Details: Rome, Italy: United Nations Environment Programme, 2009. 117p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2019 at: http://www.fao.org/3/i0620e/i0620e00.htm Year: 2009 Country: International URL: http://www.fao.org/3/i0620e/i0620e00.htm#Contents Shelf Number: 155493 Keywords: Crimes Against the EnvironmentEnvironmental Crime Fishing NetsGreen CriminologyHazardous Waste Illegal Dumping Illegal Unregulated and Unreported FishingIUU FishingMarine PollutionOceans Pollution Offences Against the Environment Pollution |
Author: Gilman, Eric Title: Abandoned, Lost or Otherwise Discarded Gillnets and Trammel Nets: Methods to Estimate Ghost Fishing Mortality, and the Status of Regional Monitoring and Management Summary: The ecological and socio-economic problems caused by abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) are increasingly of concern. Used primarily by coastal, artisanal, small-scale fisheries worldwide, marine gillnets and trammel nets, which have relatively high ghost fishing potential, account for about one-fifth of global marine fisheries landings. FAO and the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme, as Secretariat for the Global Partnership on Marine Litter, commissioned this study to identify best practices to estimate ghost fishing mortality rates and levels, priority research needs, and the status of international monitoring and management of ALDFG and ghost fishing by marine gillnet and trammel net fisheries. Accurate estimates of total ghost fishing mortality levels can be made given quality data on the density of ALDFG retaining fishing efficiency, duration of ghost fishing efficiency, and total ghost fishing mortality level of a unit of effort of ALDFG over the full period that the derelict gear retains fishing efficiency. Recommendations to improve estimates of regional and global rates and levels of ghost fishing from ALDFG from marine gillnet and trammel net fisheries were made. An assessment was made and opportunities were identified to improve intergovernmental organizations' data collection protocols and management measures to prevent and remediate ALDFG and ghost fishing by marine gillnets and trammel nets. Details: Rome, Italy: United Nations Environment Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2016. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2019 at: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5051e.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5051e.pdf Shelf Number: 155494 Keywords: Crimes Against the Environment Environmental Crime Fishing Nets Ghost Fishing Green Criminology Hazardous Waste Illegal Dumping Illegal Unregulated and Unreported Fishing IUU Fishing Marine Pollution Oceans Pollution Offences Against the Environment Pollution |
Author: Williams, Mari Title: No Time to Waste: Tackling the Plastic Pollution Crisis Before it's Too Late Summary: This report describes the environmental destruction, sickness, mortality, and damage to livelihoods that the plastic pollution crisis is causing. It outlines the problem - namely the huge recent increase in the production and distribution of single-use plastics, and its expansion across the globe to countries lacking the capacity to collect, manage and recycle waste. And it spells out the solutions. Current trajectories point to increased illness and unnecessary deaths, further harm to livelihoods and greater destruction of our environment. But it doesn't have to be this way. In this report we outline the roles and responsibilities of four groups we believe to be key to tackling the plastic pollution crisis: multinational consumer goods companies who drive the production of single-use plastic packaging, and currently do little to collect and sustainably manage the waste they have created developed country governments who have enabled and incentivised a 'throwaway' culture and whose response to the This report describes the environmental destruction, sickness, mortality, and damage to livelihoods that the plastic pollution crisis is causing. It outlines the problem - namely the huge recent increase in the production and distribution of single-use plastics, and its expansion across the globe to countries lacking the capacity to collect, manage and recycle waste. And it spells out the solutions. Current trajectories point to increased illness and unnecessary deaths, further harm to livelihoods and greater destruction of our environment. But it doesn't have to be this way. In this report we outline the roles and responsibilities of four groups we believe to be key to tackling the plastic pollution crisis: multinational consumer goods companies who drive the production of single-use plastic packaging, and currently do little to collect and sustainably manage the waste they have created developed country governments who have enabled and incentivised a 'throwaway' culture and whose response to the crisis in developing countries has so far been weak developing country governments whose citizens are the most severely impacted by the crisis citizens who can show that there is an overwhelming demand for change. Details: London: Tearfund, 2019. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2019 at: https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/bitstream/handle/123456789/14490/J32121_No_time_to_waste_web.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Year: 2019 Country: International URL: https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/bitstream/handle/123456789/14490/J32121_No_time_to_waste_web.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Shelf Number: 155862 Keywords: Environmental CrimesGreen CriminologyPlastic PackagingPollutionWaste Pollution |
Author: Jeftic, Ljubomir Title: Marine Litter: A Global Challenge Summary: Marine litter is a global concern affecting all the oceans of the world. It poses environmental, economic, health and aesthetic problems that are rooted in poor solid waste management practices, lack of infrastructure, indiscriminate human activities and behaviours and an inadequate understanding on the part of the public of the potential consequences of their actions. The UNEP Global Initiative on Marine Litter has provided an effective framework for conducting regional activities addressing marine litter around the world, including those of the 12 participating Regional Seas programmes. The objective of this document is (1) to present and analyse available information on marine litter discussed in documents produced by the 12 regional programmes with the help of regional consultants and technical experts and (2) to propose recommendations for addressing the problems associated with marine litter worldwide. This document is not a comprehensive overview of global marine litter, but it does provide current information on the marine litter issue in participating regions (Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caspian, East African Seas, Eastern Africa, Mediterranean, Northeast Atlantic, Northwest Pacific, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, South Asian Seas, South Pacific, and Wider Caribbean). Chapter 1, Facing the global challenge of marine litter, introduces the topic and the challenges marine litter poses to the international community. It describes the main sources and impacts of marine litter and how UNEP has begun to address these through its Regional Seas Programme and the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (GPA), and the UNEP Global Initiative on Marine Litter. Finally it outlines the existing international and regional initiatives that address marine litter problems. Chapter 2, Review of regional assessments and regional action plans on marine litter, presents summaries of the documents produced as part of the UNEP Global Initiative on Marine Litter, including 12 regional overviews and seven regional action plans. In addition, a summary of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) programme is presented, covering ICC events carried out in 132 countries of the world and in 73 countries of the 12 Regional Seas that are part of the UNEP Global Marine Litter Initiative. Chapter 3, Analysis of regional review documents and action plans on marine litter, presents an analysis of the information and data presented in 12 regional assessment documents and seven Regional Action Plans summarized in Chapter 2 of this document. Chapter 4, The way forward, provides a discussion of the general conclusions and proposed recommendations presented in this overview, and also offers conclusions and recommendations related to nine specific issues that are important for the understanding, control and reduction of the global problem of marine litter. Details: New York: United Nations Environment Programme, 2009. 234p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 22, 2019 at: https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/10744/MarineLitterAglobalChallenge.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Year: 2009 Country: International URL: http://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/7787 Shelf Number: 155968 Keywords: Environmental Crime Marine Litter Offenses against the Environment Pollution |
Author: European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL) Title: Transfrontier Shipment of Electronic Waste IMPEL Project Report Summary: The legitimate, safe disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) has been a problem for many countries for a number of years with catastrophic consequences to the health and well being of human beings and significant degradation to the environment particularly in the developing nations. A plethora of International Laws and Regulations have so far failed to regulate the global market in which unscrupulous operators are able to profit from disposing of ewaste cheaply and illegally abroad instead of taking the environmentally responsible but more expensive option of full recycling to remove and neutralise toxic materials. A report commissioned by the Interpol Pollution Crime Working Group and published in May 2009 presented the findings on their phased project to identify and demonstrate linkages between organized crime and the disposal of e-waste. It was limited to participants from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, USA, Canada, Sweden Australia, Benin, the UK and UNEP. The conclusions and actions resulting from the report indicated that there was a significant amount of work left to do in order to provide a pragmatic sustainable solution to the international e-waste problem. Removing e-waste from the regulated waste industry for exportation to non-OECD countries avoids surcharges providing an opportunity for the indigenous and international criminal fraternity to get involved. Weak, geographically limited regulation makes it difficult to control potential e-waste exports and to determine what proportion of waste is being disposed of improperly. In the EU a lucrative market exists in exporting waste illegally. This is due to the substantial financial benefits that can be achieved. Waste is easy and cheap to source while shipping costs to non OECD countries and the perceived risk of being prosecuted is low. To effectively regulate European exports of e-waste it is important that member states understand the scale and processes involved in exports of this type and develop the most effective interventions that can be employed to prevent them. This project has sought to help participating member states better understand their own contribution to this problem and how they might tackle the problem of illegal ewaste exports more effectively. The project has found that a coordinated approach is required from member states to tackle the problem. An intelligence led approach is fundamental to tackling the illegal e-waste export market at a European and international level. The European picture remains unclear Who? Why? What? When? Where? How? Are questions that should be posed - but can't be answered when it comes to the illegal export of waste. There is a great deal of work to undertake at a tactical and strategic level. However the progress made through this project has provided a platform for competent authorities to move forward and tackle the e-waste export issues in their countries effectively and efficiently. Details: Brussels, Belgium: European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), 2017. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2019 at: http://www.impel.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMPEL-Report.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Europe URL: https://www.impel.eu/projects/transfrontier-shipments-of-e-waste/ Shelf Number: 156810 Keywords: E-Waste Electronic Waste Hazardous Material Illegal Dumping Illegal Waste Offenses Against the Environment Organized Crime Pollution |