News and events
LIFE SMART Waste project completion
The LIFE SMART Waste project (2014-2020) has finally drawn to a close with the completion of its ambitious action plans to develop and demonstrate innovative ways of understanding, tackling and reducing the issue of waste crime. - Read the full news story
INTERPOL publishes report on global plastic waste management
INTERPOL have published a new open-source strategic analysis report on global plastic waste management that highlights an alarming increase in illegal plastic pollution trade across the world since 2018. - Read the full news story
Digital brochure published
We have published a digital brochure summarising LIFE SMART Waste's results and the recommendations arising from the project's capacity-building initiatives to help regulators and law enforcement agencies to tackle waste crime. - Read the full news story
Criminal trends in the global plastic waste market
In the wake of restrictions on foreign waste imports since 2018, we have worked with INTERPOL to help prepare and publish two strategic analysis reports, one assessing the criminal trends observed in the global plastic waste market and one with an additional European focus. - Read the full news story
News archive
Interested in our tools and recommendations?
We are developing and piloting a range of useful tools and user manuals to help environmental regulators and enforcement agencies to gather intelligence and develop interventions designed to tackle waste (and potentially other types of environmental) crime. - Read the full news story
International collaboration to achieve smarter waste regulation and pollution crime enforcement
The LIFE SMART Waste project successfully joined with the INTERPOL Environmental Security Programme (ENS) and the INTERPOL Pollution Crime Working Group to host the ‘Smarter waste regulation and pollution crime enforcement’ conference at the BEL Convention Centre in Brussels, Belgium from 12-14 November 2019. - Read the full news story
Final conference - REGISTER NOW!
[Registration closed] We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the LIFE SMART Waste project's final conference in Brussels, Belgium from 12-14 November 2019.
LIFE SMART Waste is joining with the INTERPOL Pollution Crime Working Group (PCWG) global network to host a conference entitled, ‘Smarter waste regulation and pollution crime enforcement’ - Read the full news story
Project extension
We are pleased to confirm that the work of the LIFE SMART Waste project will continue until 31 May 2020.
A one-year extension for the LIFE SMART Waste project, which is co-funded by the EU LIFE Programme, has been approved by the European Commission. - Read the full news story
IMPEL targets waste crime
During 2019, IMPEL (the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law) is involved with three exciting projects related to tackling waste crime: LIFE SWEAP; WasteForce; and SPIDER WEB. - Read the full news story
Progress on technical actions
LIFE SMART Waste has published a report to provide a high level summary of the project’s progress towards developing and demonstrating innovative ways to understand, tackle and reduce waste-related crime. - Read the full news story
Interested in our training?
The LIFE SMART Waste project is developing a range of useful tools and user manuals to help environmental regulators to tackle issues related to waste crime. Following pilots to test and refine these materials, we will develop and deliver supporting training modules. - Read the full news story
Principal Policy Officer appointment
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has appointed Eleanor Strain as Principal Policy Officer for the LIFE SMART Waste (LSW) project.
Eleanor joined SEPA in 2002. Since then, she has worked in a number of roles to support sustainable resource use and waste management compliance. - Read the full news story
INTERPOL investigative case meeting, Lyon
LIFE SMART Waste have been supporting the work of INTERPOL's Pollution Crime Working Group by participating in an investigative case meeting on the involvement of organised crime in pollution crime.
Representatives from 18 countries met in in Lyon 20-22 March, 2019 at the invitation of the INTERPOL General Secretariat - Read the full news story
We're recruiting a Principal Policy Officer
A vacancy has arisen for a Principal Policy Officer to lead the design and development of policy and legislative changes arising from the LIFE SMART Waste (LSW) project within Scotland, UK and Europe.
The Principal Policy Officer will be employed by SEPA with responsibility for environmental regulators, enforcement bodies and waste industry representatives - Read the full news story
Coming soon in 2019
The work of the LIFE SMART Waste project has gathered pace and 2019 promises a wealth of new insights with the completion of our waste crime interventions, further pilot studies and the publication of a range of reports to share the results. - Read the full news story
Remote Sensing pilots to detect illegal waste in Scotland
The LIFE SMART Waste project is currently undertaking two concurrent pilots in Scotland to develop and evaluate the application of select Remote Sensing techniques to help tackle waste crime.
As outlined in the project's initial research, Remote Sensing techniques can potentially play a significant role in supporting the work - Read the full news story
Could you pilot our Waste Crime Indicators Toolkit?
The LIFE SMART Waste project has developed a Waste Crime Indicators Toolkit that is designed to provide practical indicators of waste crime using simple analysis of waste operator data. - Read the full news story
Horizon Scanning workshops, the Netherlands
Representatives from EU Member State environmental regulators and enforcement bodies from throughout Europe have attended workshops in the Netherlands to take part in a European pilot for the LIFE SMART Waste project's Horizon Scanning Toolkit.
The project's recently-developed Horizon Scanning Toolkit is designed to help environmental regulators to build an early warning system - Read the full news story
UK Waste Trade Advisory Group, Manchester
The LIFE SMART Waste project has brought together a range of key industry stakeholders to consider the persistent issue of criminality within the UK's waste management industry. As a result, a collaborative trade advisory group was formed to help develop a flourishing 'legitimate' waste management industry by creating a more hostile operating environment for criminals. - Read the full news story
Interested in our training?
The LIFE SMART Waste project is developing a range of useful tools and user manuals to help environmental regulators to tackle issues related to waste crime. Following pilots to test and refine these materials, we will develop and deliver supporting training modules. - Read the full news story
ENPE Conference 2018, Greece
The LIFE SMART Waste project shared some of its innovative work at the recent ENPE Annual Conference in Heraklion, Crete, Greece from 23-24 October 2018.
ENPE joined with partners from two EU LIFE programme funded projects, and a specialist water Crimes Group - Read the full news story
EMPACT financial investigation
Referencing the project's Financial Risk Assessment Tool, LIFE SMART Waste has been supporting EMPACT actions prioritising environmental crime by participating in operational activity relating to Financial Investigations (Environmental Crime, Strategic Goal 6). - Read the full news story
Multi-agency intervention to 'Drive out waste crime'
The LIFE SMART Waste project, led by SEPA, has teamed up with the English, Welsh and Northern Irish environment protection agencies, enforcement agencies and industry associations to tackle the issue of illegal transportation and disposal of waste. - Read the full news story
New Horizon Scanning Toolkit
The LIFE SMART Waste project has developed and published a new Horizon Scanning Toolkit that is designed to help environmental regulators to build an early warning system for emerging developments in the waste sector to protect the industry from future criminal enterprise - Read the full news story
INTERPOL Pollution Crime Working Group, South Africa
The LIFE SMART Waste project was amongst the initiatives discussed at INTERPOL’s Pollution Crime Working Group (PCWG) meeting at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, South Africa from 22-25 May 2018.
The PCWG network meets annually to discuss new and growing global concerns relating to pollution crime, to share best practice - Read the full news story
We're recruiting
A vacancy has arisen for a Technical Team Manager to lead the existing team and deliver technical deliverables for the LIFE SMART Waste project. - Read the full news story
Illegal waste warehousing campaign
LIFE SMART Waste has partnered with Crimestoppers and a range of organisations to launch a campaign to help tackle the issue of illegal dumping of waste in warehouses and farm buildings.
In the UK we are seeing an increase in incidents of criminals using warehouses and farm buildings to illegally dispose of - Read the full news story
Intervention Design Manual published
The LIFE SMART Waste project has published an innovative Intervention Design Manual to give environmental authorities and others a framework for choosing and designing waste crime interventions and making partnership agreements.
The Intervention Design Manual for waste crime was prepared by Cambrensis with input from the SEPA project team, Natural Resources Wales - Read the full news story
National Forum on Waste Management - Nantes
The LIFE SMART Waste project was amongst the initiatives discussed at the Assises Nationales des Déchets (National Forum on Waste Management), co-organised by ACR+ member Nantes Métropole, on 27 and 28 September 2017 in Nantes, France.
Approximately 520 delegates gathered at this biennial forum which focused on - Read the full news story
New Remote Sensing report published
The LIFE SMART Waste project has published the first in a series of reports investigating the potential for innovation in using Remote Sensing (RS) techniques and data to help tackle waste crime.
Waste crime is a high priority challenge for environmental regulators in the European Union. - Read the full news story
Industry perceptions of waste crime
The LIFE SMART Waste project has published a report on waste and resource management industry perceptions of waste crime in Scotland following research undertaken to help fill gaps in our understanding of the scale of the issue and to inform the design of effective interventions.
The threat of waste crime to the natural environment - Read the full news story
Save the date - No time to waste!
The BlockWaste and DOTCOM Waste projects – focusing on illegal waste management and transport - have announced that their final conference will take place on 23 November 2017 in Brussels, Belgium.
Join the LIFE SMART Waste team in saving the date - Read the full news story
New digital brochure published
We have published the latest in a series of LIFE SMART Waste digital brochures to provide an update on progress at the mid-point in the project.
The brochure provides updates on the launch of the project's communications Hub, intelligence-gathering activities and progress - Read the full news story
Assessing the vulnerability of the Waste Tyres sector
The LIFE SMART Waste project is seeking the support of the waste and resources industry to complete a survey to help assess the vulnerability of the Waste Tyres sector to criminal activity.
LIFE SMART Waste, led by SEPA, is working with environmental regulators and enforcement agencies throughout the UK - Read the full news story
Financial investigations webinar
The LIFE SMART Waste project will be delivering a webinar on 'Pro-active financial Investigation in tackling waste crime' on 12 June 2017 as part of the DOTCOM Waste webinar series.
In this webinar, George Hope (SEPA) will consider how environmental authorities or regulators could go beyond their usual remit - Read the full news story
LIFE 25th Anniversary
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of LIFE - the EU's financial instrument for nature, the environment and climate action - the LIFE SMART Waste project will be promoted by ACR+ at two events in Barcelona, Spain during 18-19 May 2017.
The EU has been supporting nature, environment and climate action for 25 years. - Read the full news story
INTERPOL PCWG, Rome
LIFE SMART Waste visited Rome at the invitation of INTERPOL's Pollution Crime Working Group (PCWG) to present an overview of a new financial screening tool that is being developed by the project to help environmental regulators to take a proactive approach to financial investigations relating to waste crime.
INTERPOL’s PCWG met in Rome for a three-day conference (15-17 May 2017) to share experiences and explore new ways - Read the full news story
Horizon scanning tool workshop, Glasgow
On behalf of the LIFE SMART Waste project, Cranfield University facilitated a workshop of expert stakeholders in Glasgow on 26 April 2017 to explore how horizon scanning and predictive analysis could help to tackle waste crime.
The workshop forms part of project Action B4 which aims to develop innovative emerging threats (horizon scanning) and predictive analysis tools that environmental authorities can use in the waste industry - Read the full news story
Enhanced External Steering Group
The External Steering Group (ESG) for the LIFE SMART Waste has recently been expanded with new members to provide the project with a broader range of expertise and experience of tackling waste crime in Europe. - Read the full news story
Financial screening tool workshop
Experts from throughout the UK gathered in Glasgow on 26 January 2017 to participate in a validation workshop for a ‘waste crime financial risk screening tool’ being developed by Cranfield University on behalf of the LIFE SMART Waste project. - Read the full news story
Declaration of Cooperation with ENPE
On 22 November 2016, George Hope (SEPA) met with the Environment Agency's Shaun Robinson and Peter Ashford representing the European Network of Prosecutors for the Environment (ENPE) to sign a formal Declaration of Cooperation between the ENPE and LIFE SMART Waste projects. - Read the full news story.
International collaboration
The LIFE SMART Waste project beneficiaries have been busy networking and engaging with a wide variety of organisations (including INTERPOL), individuals and related EU projects to raise awareness of the project’s goals, harness expertise and to seek partners for collaboration. - Read the full news story.
Understanding waste flows
The LIFE SMART Waste project has been gathering and analysing information on the flow of waste trommel fines in Scotland as a precursor to developing innovative waste flow audit approaches (project action B5). - Read the full news story.
Communications 'Hub' pilot is underway
The design and procurement of the LIFE SMART Waste project’s communication ‘Hub’ has been completed, enabling a pilot launch of the Hub for project beneficiaries and a selection of external users. - Read the full news story.
Addressing barriers to joint working
THE LIFE SMART Waste project has published two reports that aim to scope and address the barriers to joint working between agencies, nationally and transnationally, on interventions to tackle waste crime. - Read the full news story.
New Intervention Design Manual
The LIFE SMART Waste project has developed an innovative Intervention Design Manual for waste crime to give environmental authorities and others a framework for choosing and designing interventions and making intervention agreements with partners. - Read the full news story.
Update on Operation Nortese
SEPA, as the lead beneficiary in the LIFE SMART Waste project, led three days of multi-agency action – known as ‘Operation Nortese’ - between the 17 and 19 May 2016 with the aim of tackling cross-border criminal activity in the UK waste industry. - Read the full news story.
Cross-border days of action, May 2016
As a prelude to a series of planned LIFE SMART Waste project interventions using an innovative, collaborative approach, SEPA is partnering with a range of enforcement agencies to undertake three days of action during 17-19 May to tackle cross border criminal activity in the waste industry. - Read the full news story
First project newsletter published
The first of a series of annual LIFE SMART Waste project e-newsletters has been published with the goal of keeping you informed with news of our activity, events and publications throughout the life of the project. - Read the full news story
Update on LIFE SMART Waste 'Hub'
We are continuing to work with our LIFE SMART Waste project partners to deliver an innovative ‘Hub’ that will allow participants throughout Europe to collaboratively build and develop an in-depth understanding of the waste industry, its markets and waste flows for challenging waste streams. - Read the full news story
IMPEL Waste & TFS Conference (Ljubljana, September 2015)
The LIFE SMART Waste project was amongst the topics considered at the three-day IMPEL TFS – Waste Conference which convened on 30 September 2015 in Ljubljana, Slovenia to consider the theme of “Waste Crime”. - Read the full news story
First project brochure publication
We have published the first in a series of LIFE SMART Waste digital brochures to help stakeholders understand how this innovative pan-European partnership is targeting waste-related crime in Europe. - Read the full news story
Information gathering strategy completed
We have achieved a key project milestone for Stage 1 of the LIFE SMART Waste project by completing the development of the project’s information gathering strategy. - Read the full news story
Stakeholder workshop in Glasgow, August 2015
A collaborative stakeholder workshop for the LIFE SMART Waste project was held in Glasgow on 26 August 2015 focusing on two key project themes - barriers to joint working and designing effective interventions. - Read the full news story