Commerce illégal des déchets : une approche exploratoire pour identifier ses facteurs déterminants

Our study aims to propose a methodology to map the illegal waste trade. Indeed, international waste trade has increased in the last decade. Issues related to waste disposal pertain mostly to the environment and logistics. For instance, disposal of exported waste creates opportunities for illegal trade when environmental regulations and institutions are weak. Consequences of illegal waste trade are dramatic regarding environmental and human contamination. The methodology developed in our study is based on the gravity model from international trade theory. We identified illegal waste trade drivers between countries and interpreted significant variables. We built a panel of 9 exporting countries and 77 importing countries. The first step of our study consisted of the validation of a proxy to measure illegal waste trade. The latter is determined based on the trade gap between the importing country and the exporting country. A repetitive or unusual trade gap could be interpreted as illegal trade. Secondly, we studied the illegal waste trade drivers by merging the variables of international trade and illegal trade theories. Our results show that corruption is a significant driver of illegal waste trade both for importing and exporting countries. Other key drivers of illegal waste trade based on our findings include the difference in the level of organized crime between partners, national environmental regulations, and gross domestic product (GDP). Finally, our study assessed the efficiency of current international conventions and regulations targeting the reduction of illegal waste trade. According to our results, the Basel Convention ratification, and most importantly the Basel Ban signature are effective in averting illegal waste trade. This study thus highlights the growing impact of illegal waste trade and urge for international institutions to implement regulations fighting illegal waste trade.