UNODC and WCO target plastic and hazardous waste
VIENNA (AUSTRIA), 5 AUGUST 2021 – On June 15th, the UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme (CCP), in collaboration with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), launched a new project to counter illegal shipments of plastic and hazardous waste in the cargo trade supply chain.
Building on findings from technical assessments undertaken jointly with authorities in Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam, the three-day long series of kick-off meetings allowed for ample opportunities for elaboration on the importance of hindering illicit hazardous waste trafficking. Through the participation of several international organizations, the meeting emphasized the importance of cooperation at both the national, regional and international level.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Stig Traavik, Director, Department for Climate, Energy and Environment, Norad, stated that “illegal activities that destroy nature and harm humans and animals often cross national borders. Customs and police are at the frontline in discovering illegal transports and trade of hazardous waste. By stopping the shipment of hazardous waste in ports, we can hinder hazardous materials ending up in places where it contaminates the environment and pose health risks to people. The CCP project on Countering Illegal Hazardous Waste Trafficking is therefore a very important and timely initiative, and Norad is proud to support it, as part of the Norwegian Development Program to combat marine litter.”
Through the provision of technical assistance, CCP’s overall aim will be to further enhance border security and encourage cooperation, emphasizing both the human and environmental aspects as well the importance of protecting national revenue and legal trade.
Over the past years, CCP supported Port Control Units across the world have reported several plastic and hazardous waste seizures, emphasizing the global nature of this type of crime: In 2020, more than 630 metric tons of waste stopped before it could enter the countries in question.
