Luxembourg and French authorities have strengthened their cooperation to combat irregular and illegal cross-border waste shipments.
A joint inspection operation was carried out on the afternoon of Friday, 26 June, across the areas of Pétange, Rumelange, Audun-le-Tiche, Mont-Saint-Martin, and Val de Briey.
According to a press release issued by the Luxembourg public prosecutor's office, the operation was intended to prevent and penalise illegal waste trafficking while ensuring that companies comply with the rules governing international waste transport.
On the Luxembourg side, 12 officers from the Customs and Excise Agency and two officials from the Environment Agency took part.
The press release states that 203 vehicles were stopped at inspection points in Luxembourg, eight of which were carrying waste.
The checks resulted in four fines for registration-related offences and two vehicles being temporarily immobilised. Three vehicles carrying waste were also turned back because their drivers did not have the documents required to transport their loads across the border.
The prosecutor's office said the results demonstrated the value of targeted and coordinated cross-border inspections.
According to the press release, irregular waste shipments not only threaten the environment but also undermine waste-management rules and create unfair competition for businesses that comply with the law.
The Luxembourg and French authorities said they would continue carrying out joint inspections on both sides of the border. They also stressed that compliance with waste-transport regulations was a shared responsibility and that breaches should not be treated as insignificant.
