OSCE trains officials to detect and prevent smuggling of hazardous waste

KYIV, 24 March 2011 – Detecting and preventing the illegal cross-border trafficking of waste and other hazardous waste in Eastern Europe were the focus of a four-day train-the-trainers workshop that ended in Kyiv today.

The OSCE-organized event gathered more than 50 officials from customs, border guard and environmental authorities, Interpol national bureaus and universities from Eastern Europe. Representatives from Central Asia and the South Caucasus also participated in the workshop. All participants directly or indirectly deal with the detection and prevention of illegal cross-border transportation of waste and other environment-sensitive commodities.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator, Ambassador Lubomir Kopaj, addressed the growing sources of hazardous waste in today’s high-tech world, highlighting that emerging and developing economies are more vulnerable to such type of environmental crimes. 

“Problems of waste, including their generation and treatment, are important for all countries represented here today. It is important for participants of these training sessions to enhance joint efforts to better control and prevent the illegal trans-boundary trafficking of hazardous waste,” he said.

The training sessions also focused on educating the relevant authorities on these issues, and enhancing co-operation between governmental, international and non-governmental organizations to better deal with the cross-border transportation of hazardous waste in line with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. In addition the participants discussed implementation of Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

During the event, Ambassador Kopaj handed over “Waste(s) Watch Cards”, which are meant to serve as a guide to help identify hazardous and other waste, to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine and the Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine.

The training sessions were organized as part of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) to build capacity to combat illegal waste transportation to Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine.