Jolanda RoelofsInspectorate of the Ministry of Housing, Spatial

Planning and the EnvironmentThe Netherlands

IMPEL waste transport inspections

A step towards European enforcement

• IMPEL • IMPEL TFS• Background and necessity of

enforcement• Results of the project Verification and

Seaport• Impel TFS Enforcement Actions• Summary

Set up

IMPEL

Network of European regulators• Established in 1992• 30 countries member states of the EU

incl.Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Turkey, Norway

• EU-Commission participate in network.

IMPEL

Objectives• More effective implementation of

environmental legislation.• Share information and experience• A greater consistency of enforcement• To promote understanding of

differences of national regulatory systems.

• Cluster TFS• For competent authorities• European Waste Shipment

regulation• Multi annual program

IMPEL TFS

Background

Large amounts of waste are being transported through EU / world

Waste export to non OECD countries – 88.000 tons: 72% possibly illegal

(= 93% of declarations)– probability of interception: 6%

Background 2

Waste export to new EU member states– 3.500 tons: 50% possibly illegal

• Enforcement stops at the border• Is it really processed:

-In the right place?-In the right manner-Or does it end up outside of EU?

• Under umbrella IMPEL/TFS• Aim of both projects: improve

international enforcement.• From 6 tot 15 countries• Uniform priorities and inspection

methods

Project Seaport and Verification

• Austria• Czech Republic• Slovak Republic• Croatia• Ireland • Belgium • Malta• Finland• Denmark• Germany (NRW, Bavaria,

Baden-Württemberg, Schleswig Holstein.)

• The Netherlands

• Poland• Portugal• Switzerland• France• Latvia• Spain• United Kingdom

Participators project 2

Starting point: transport inspections

Select location at a strategic transport point.

• Choose inspection method:- Roadblock or mobile:- Facilities or less preparation- Large amount or better selection- Publicity or act discreetly

Project Verification - Preparation

• Organize the briefing and evaluation• Selection of transports• Checking compliance EU regulation• Collecting information about the

transport• Use of an uniform report form

Project Verification - Inspections

• Investigation at receiving company:- Did the waste arrive?- Is the company permitted?- Is it recovered/disposed as prescribed

• Inspection of dispatch; upstream and downstream.

Project Verification - Verification

Starting point: inspections at seaports

• Custom document checks • Selection bases on priorities• Storage locations• Traffic inspections• Follow up actions

Project Seaport

Bottlenecks • Chaos in competent authorities and

competencies. • Uniform interpretation of Regulations is

a problem.• Verifications is vital, but hard arrange

Conclusions Project Verification/Seaport

• 50 % illegal shipments• Impulse for (inter) national enforcement

activities and cooperation.• Port hopping tackled• Information, signal and experiences

exchanged.

Conclusions Project Verification/Seaport

Monitors

Cable scrap

Waste paper?

Waste paper?

• A permanent common and consistent level of enforcement

• Setting up training and exchange programs for inspection

• Maintain and improve the network of inspectors

• Easy assisable European enforcement project.

Project Enforcement Actions

Project Enforcement Actions

:Strategy

•Toolbox

•Verification

•Communication

•Exchange of knowledge

•Exchange of information

Project Enforcement Actions

Inspections Verification Communication

Exchange of inspections

Inspections:-Harbours-Transport: rail, road, water-Companies

-Destination-Dispatch -inside/outside EU

-Viadesk/ Website-Inspection forms-Publicity -Network

• Enforcement is necessary• Lots of violations• Waste transports throughout the

world • Through cooperation tackled illegal

waste shipment.

Summary

For more information:

www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/impel

Information