The Superior Audit Institutions (SAI) of Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Norway, Slovenia and the Netherlands developed an audit together to improve the implementation of the European Transport Regulation Waste (EWSR) that evaluates the shipment of discards to other countries.
The major carriers of waste worldwide are Europe, Japan and North America, while Asia and Africa are the recipients.
For example, in Asia they usually recycle European papers and plastic. Electrical and electronic wastes are shipped from Europe to Africa, where they are "cremated outdoors after removing the most valuable metals." Thus African countries "suffer human and environmental consequences."
The cooperative audit also detailed "hundreds of illegal shipments of waste" that are held every year in the old continent. These transfers involve “a serious risk” because “they are illegally dumped or processed without care” and affect the protection of humans and the environment.
The 27 Member States of the European Union (EU) generated about 2,570 million tons of waste in 2010, of which 94 million tons were hazardous waste, those who may pose a danger present or future, direct or indirect human health and the environment.
On the European Waste Transport Regulation, the report says that "there are differences of interpretation within and between countries" which "complicates the implementation and increases the risk of illegal exports".
In addition, "there are weaknesses in information systems and the sharing of data within countries."
This situation adds that "there are great differences in prioritization" and five of the eight audited countries "have limited resources", especially regarding technical and personnel equipment.
Oslo and a Fun Fact
According to a note published in the New York Times, Oslo, Norway's capital, imports waste to produce energy.
The city has 1.4 million inhabitants and produces minimal waste; this is why it needs to import it from other countries to then generate electricity. So much so, that the recycling process operates about 410,000 tons per year.