The illegal trade and disposal of electronic waste – known as e-waste or waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) – is increasingly becoming a threat to global environmental health and security. Can we do anything about it?

The illegal trade and disposal of electronic waste – known as e-waste or waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) – is increasingly becoming a threat to global environmental health and security. To enhance the capabilities of governments in the EU and beyond to combat this growing crime, INTERPOL, Cross-border Research Association (CBRA) and five other partners launched the 2-year Countering WEEE Illegal Trade (CWIT) project in September 2013, funded by the EU’s 7th Framework Program. The project has specific objectives to identify the policy, regulatory, procedural and technical gaps as observed in today’s business environment, and to suggest tangible improvements for today’s situation. CWIT-project brings together a group of experts skilled in the fields of e-waste analysis, crime analysis & supply chain security and database management. Citizen and employee health and safety issues, environmental protection topics as well as raw-material re-use related economic aspects all call for increased attention and enhanced enforcement in the context of e-waste trade, transport and treatment.