Case Explained: UN warns global illegal waste trade is surging, fuelled by weak regulation and organised crime – Channel Africa – Legal Perspective

In a new report, UNODC said criminal groups are exploiting weak regulations, corruption and vast profit potential, turning waste disposal into a global illicit industry worth up to $18 billion a year.

The agency noted that although legal waste management was valued at $1.2 trillion in 2024, only a fraction of waste is handled responsibly, with criminal networks stepping in to profit from gaps in oversight. UNODC said corporate involvement is common, ranging from companies that ignore regulations to those running “parallel illegal operations”.

Candice Welsch, Director of Policy Analysis and Public Affairs at UNODC, said the consequences are severe. “This is not an abstract challenge. It drives toxic pollution of drinking water, the ocean, soil and more,” she said, highlighting how hazardous waste often flows from wealthy countries to poorer nations with limited capacity to manage it safely.

Electronic waste remains one of the world’s fastest‑growing waste streams. Only one‑fifth is disposed of properly, meaning criminals illegally extracted an estimated $28 billion from valuable raw materials such as copper, iron and gold in 2022. Solar panels and other mass‑produced technologies are also emerging as new waste categories vulnerable to criminal exploitation.

The illegal waste trade damages ecosystems, threatens public health and deepens inequality in destination countries while undermining governance and fuelling corruption. UNODC said organised crime groups display sophisticated knowledge of global regulations, “jurisdiction shopping” for countries with the weakest laws and lowest penalties.

The report details how traffickers set up legal front companies and use complex logistics networks across multiple countries to collect, export, import, and dispose of waste. Techniques include burning waste for energy, dumping hazardous materials in rivers or landfills, and mislabelling dangerous chemicals as safe.

Weak enforcement worldwide has allowed the trade to flourish. In Europe, demand for illegal disposal services is rising due to stricter regulations and higher legal costs. Meanwhile, in developing countries, informal waste pickers working on contaminated dumps face serious health risks.

UNODC urged governments to strengthen laws, increase cross‑border cooperation and invest in stronger monitoring and enforcement systems to curb this growing global threat.

–UN/ChannelAfrica–