TRIAL AND ERROR? DISMANTLING AND AFTERCARE OF SYNTHETIC DRUG DUMPING SITES IN BELGIUM
Belgium is internationally known for its synthetic drug production and trafficking. The production of syn-thetic drugs generates a significant amount of waste. This waste is illegally dumped or discharged, thus posing a threat to public health and the environment. Synthetic drug production is therefore strongly linked to environmental crime. Many dumping sites remain undetected, limiting our perception and knowledge of environmental long- term harms and hindering the development of approaches, both preventive and remediating, within policy and practice. In this article we discuss the dismantling and remediation of synthetic drug dumping sites in Belgium based on a literature review, semi- structured interviews and a case file analysis. We provide an overview of the professional actors involved in tack-ling dumping sites and their cooperation. In addition, we highlight the challenges currently obstruct-ing a more efficient and unambiguous approach in the dismantling and remediation of dumping sites, namely a lack of communication and focused procedures, a lack of expertise, a lack of sense of urgency, disagreement over financial responsibilities, and a general lack of awareness. We therefore conclude with three recommendations to achieve a more thorough and long- term approach to drug dumping sites in Belgium, namely (1) introducing a uniform approach to dismantling and remediation based on monitoring; (2) establishing agreements on financing; and (3) broadening of knowledge and expertise.