2024-06-122023/24:MJU17 · p.18MJUEnvironment & agriculture
Waste-related criminality
Tougher penalties against waste crime
What's at stake: The decision concerns how forcefully society acts against waste crime, which is often linked to organised crime, and which in turn affects the environment through illegal dumping and unauthorised export of waste.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether waste-management legislation should be tightened and penalties for waste crime increased to deter illegal dumping and export of waste, or whether the current regulation is sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motion. The committee has previously set out its view on similar proposals on waste management and reaches no different assessment here, instead pointing to ongoing work and existing regulation against waste crime.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 23 (MP)
The reservation (MP) calls for tightening waste-management legislation and increasing penalties for waste crime. The reasoning is that waste crime is widespread and often linked to other organised crime, and that tougher penalties can deter both illegal dumping and unauthorised export of waste.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 23 by MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: MModeraterna
Ja 281–15Ja 223–73
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 91/0/0/15 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2023/24:2669 by Märta Stenevi et al. (MP) demand 110.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2023/24:2669 av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP) yrkande 110.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag has addressed a letter from the Government regarding the Swedish National Audit Office's report on the handling of spent solar panels and wind turbine blades. The Swedish National Audit Office's overarching conclusion is that the Government, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Energy Agency have not ensured that spent solar panels and wind turbine blades can be handled in a non-toxic and circular manner. The Swedish National Audit Office's recommendations to the Government include reviewing the need for policy instruments to promote such handling. In its letter, the Government agrees with the Swedish National Audit Office's findings and at the same time points to measures that have been taken, including that the Government has tasked the Swedish Energy Agency with investigating how solar panels and turbine blades for wind power plants to a greater extent can be handled in accordance with the so-called waste hierarchy. The Riksdag considers that the measures that the Government presents partly correspond to what the Swedish National Audit Office is calling for. At the same time, the Riksdag emphasizes that the work needs to be intensified to achieve sustainable handling of these products. With this, the committee proposes that the Riksdag tables the Government's letter, that is, closes the matter. The Riksdag also said no to approximately 180 proposals on circular and non-toxic economy in motions from the ordinary motion period 2023, partly with reference to ongoing work. The motions deal with sustainable design, consumption and production, reuse and recycling, waste, circular food issues, plastic issues and chemical issues.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to develop the transition to a circular economy by promoting sharing economy and climate-smart services. (MP) — Reservation 23
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The party programme points out economic crime in companies as a cause of, among other things, environmental damage, emphasises that the risk of detection plays a large role and requires effective follow-up of organised economic crime and greater societal transparency in companies.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme points out economic crime in companies as a cause of, among other things, environmental damage, emphasises that the risk of detection plays a large role and requires effective follow-up of organised economic crime and greater societal transparency in companies. The counter-proposal's requirement for stricter waste legislation and tightened penalties against dumping and unauthorised export follows that commitment. The plan at the same time requires that penalties are designed so that they actually reduce crime.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet pekar ut ekonomisk brottslighet i företag som orsak till bland annat miljöförstöring, betonar att risken för upptäckt spelar stor roll och kräver en effektiv uppföljning av den organiserade ekonomiska brottsligheten samt större samhällelig insyn i företag. Motförslagets krav på stramare avfallslagstiftning och skärpta straff mot dumpning och otillåten export följer det åtagandet. Planen kräver samtidigt att påföljder utformas så att de faktiskt sänker brottsligheten.
- combat economic crime in companiesdecisive»Ekonomisk brottslighet i företag leder till allvarliga konsekvenser,« (party programme ↗)“Economic crime in companies leads to serious consequences,”
- follow-up of organised crime»Det behövs en effektiv uppföljning av den organiserade« (party programme ↗)“Effective follow-up of organised”
- transparency in companies»Vi vill gå mot en större samhällelig insyn« (party programme ↗)“We want to move towards greater societal transparency”
- penalties should reduce crime»utformade för att faktiskt leda till lägre brottslighet och inte förvärra« (party programme ↗)“designed to actually lead to lower crime and not worsen”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto wants to toughen sentences for those who commit repeated and serious crimes and for those who support organized crime, and crack down hard on the financing and organization of organized crime.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to toughen sentences for those who commit repeated and serious crimes and for those who support organized crime, and crack down hard on the financing and organization of organized crime. Waste crime linked to organized crime falls under precisely these commitments, and according to the plan, the fight against crime should be uncompromising. The party programme also requires that the environmental impact of waste products be minimized. The plan therefore argues for tougher sentences and stricter rules.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill skärpa straffen för den som begår upprepade och allvarliga brott och för den som understödjer organiserad kriminalitet, och slå hårt mot den organiserade brottslighetens finansiering och organisation. Avfallsbrottslighet som är kopplad till organiserad brottslighet faller under just dessa åtaganden, och kampen mot kriminaliteten ska enligt planen vara kompromisslös. Partiprogrammet kräver dessutom att avfallsprodukters miljöpåverkan minimeras. Planen talar därför för skärpta straff och stramare regler.
- toughened sentences for organized crimedecisive»Vi vill skärpa straffen bland annat för gängrelaterad brottslighet, för den som begår upprepade och allvarliga brott och för den som understödjer organiserad kriminalitet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to toughen sentences for, among other things, gang-related crime, for those who commit repeated and serious crimes and for those who support organized crime.”
- crack down on crime's economy»Slå hårt mot den organiserade brottslighetens finansiering och organisation.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Crack down hard on the financing and organization of organized crime.”
- uncompromising crime-fighting»Kampen mot kriminaliteten ska vara kompromisslös.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The fight against crime shall be uncompromising.”
- minimize waste's environmental impact»miljöpåverkan i form av utsläpp och avfallsprodukter ska minimeras« (party programme ↗)“environmental impact in the form of emissions and waste products shall be minimized”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants Sweden to work for ecocide legislation and that it must be expensive, difficult and hard to be criminal, with multi-pronged government action against organized crime's businesses.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants Sweden to work for ecocide legislation and that it must be expensive, difficult and hard to be criminal, with multi-pronged government action against organized crime's businesses. Stricter legislation and tougher penalties for waste crimes, which often are connected to organized crime and damage the environment, align with both these commitments. The plan does not, however, mention waste crimes, so the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att Sverige verkar för en ekocidlagstiftning och att det ska vara dyrt, jobbigt och svårt att vara kriminell, med myndighetsangrepp mot den organiserade brottslighetens företag från flera håll. Skärpt lagstiftning och skärpta straff för avfallsbrott, som ofta hänger samman med organiserad brottslighet och skadar miljön, ligger i linje med båda dessa åtaganden. Planen nämner dock inte avfallsbrott, så slutsatsen är härledd.
- criminalize environmental destructiondecisive»att Sverige verkar för en ekocidlagstiftning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that Sweden works for ecocide legislation.”
- strike against crime's businesses»stoppa finansieringen av de kriminella gängen genom att stärka myndighetssamverkan så att myndigheterna kan slå till mot den organiserade brottslighetens företag från flera håll: svartklubbar och gästarbetarbostäder utan bygglov, restauranger som missköter hygien, skattebrott och varenda spelautomat som saknar tillstånd. Det ska vara dyrt, jobbigt och svårt att vara kriminell.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“stop financing of criminal gangs by strengthening inter-agency cooperation so that authorities can strike against organized crime's businesses from multiple directions: unlicensed clubs and illegal worker housing, restaurants breaking hygiene rules, tax crimes and every single gaming machine lacking a license. It must be expensive, difficult and hard to be criminal.”
- tools against crime»Rättssäkerheten ska tryggas samtidigt som de rättsvårdande myndigheterna ska ges de verktyg som krävs för att bekämpa kriminaliteten och öka tryggheten i samhället.« (party programme ↗)“Legal security must be safeguarded while law enforcement agencies are given the tools required to combat crime and increase safety in society.”
- closed loops for waste»Målet är slutna kretslopp.« (party programme ↗)“The goal is closed loops.”
The manifesto requires stronger penalties and more resources throughout the justice chain to combat organized crime, and waste crime is described in the matter as precisely such crime.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The manifesto requires stronger penalties and more resources throughout the justice chain to combat organized crime, and waste crime is described in the matter as precisely such crime. The plan also wants to protect lakes and waterways from litter and toxins, which stricter legislation against illegal dumping serves. Stricter penalties for waste crimes therefore follow from the plan's law and order and environmental commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Manifestet kräver strängare straff och mer resurser i hela rättskedjan för att besegra den organiserade brottsligheten, och avfallsbrottsligheten beskrivs i ärendet som just sådan brottslighet. Planen vill dessutom skydda sjöar och vattendrag från nedskräpning och gifter, vilket skärpt lagstiftning mot olaglig dumpning tjänar. Skärpta straff för avfallsbrott följer därför av planens rättspolitiska och miljöpolitiska åtaganden.
- stronger penalties for organized crimedecisive»Samhället ska inte vika sig för gängen. För att besegra dem krävs bättre insatser som förebygger nyrekrytering, mer resurser till polis, åklagare, domstolar och kriminalvården och strängare straff.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Society must not yield to gangs. To defeat them requires better measures to prevent recruitment, more resources to police, prosecutors, courts and prisons and stronger penalties.”
- stronger penalties»Sverige behöver fler poliser, hårdare straff och bättre förebyggande insatser« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs more police, stronger penalties and better preventive measures”
- protect the environment from litter»Rädda Sveriges sjöar, vattendrag och hav. Våra barn ska kunna bada utan att utsättas för gifter, nedskräpning eller algblomning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Save Sweden's lakes, waterways and seas. Our children should be able to swim without being exposed to toxins, litter or algal blooms.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants penalties to be tightened for repeated crime and participation in organized crime, and that supervision and sanctions in the environmental field are improved respectively tightened.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants penalties to be tightened for repeated crime and participation in organized crime, and that supervision and sanctions in the environmental field are improved respectively tightened. Waste crime with link to organized crime is caught by both these commitments. The counter-proposal's demands for stricter waste legislation and stiffer penalties thereby follow the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att påföljderna skärps vid upprepad brottslighet och medverkan i organiserad brottslighet, och att tillsynen och sanktionerna på miljöområdet förbättras respektive skärps. Avfallsbrottslighet med koppling till organiserad brottslighet träffas av båda dessa åtaganden. Motförslagets krav på stramare avfallslagstiftning och strängare straff följer därför planens linje.
- stricter penalties for relapsedecisive»Påföljdssystemet ska förändras så att återfall och upprepad brottslighet ger strängare straff« (party programme ↗)“The penalty system shall be changed so that relapse and repeated crime gives stricter penalties”
- sharpened environmental sanctions»Tillsynen behöver förbättras och sanktionerna skärpas.« (party programme ↗)“Supervision needs to be improved and sanctions sharpened.”
- sharpened penalties»Vi vill avskaffa dagens mängdrabatt på brott, slopa den närmast automatiska frigivningen från fängelsestraff och skärpa straffen för bland annat vapenbrott, våldtäkt och utpressning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to abolish today's quantity discount on crime, stop the nearly automatic release from prison sentence and sharpen penalties for among other things weapons crime, rape and extortion.”
- reduced environmental impact of waste»Avfallets miljöpåverkan ska minskas genom fungerande återanvändning och återbruk.« (party programme ↗)“Waste's environmental impact shall be reduced through functioning reuse and recycling.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that all crimes be effectively and without exception prosecuted and that reaction to crime is swift and predictable, whilst environmental policy is based on the polluter pays principle.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that all crimes be effectively and without exception prosecuted and that reaction to crime is swift and predictable, whilst environmental policy is based on the polluter pays principle. Stricter legislation and harsher penalties for waste crimes, which are often transnational and linked to organised crime, follow from these commitments. Therefore the demand is supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att alla brott effektivt och utan undantag beivras och att reaktionen på brott är snabb och förutsägbar, samtidigt som miljöpolitiken bygger på att förorenaren betalar. Skärpt lagstiftning och strängare straff för avfallsbrott, som ofta är gränsöverskridande och kopplat till organiserad brottslighet, följer av dessa åtaganden. Därför stöds kravet.
- all crimes shall be prosecuteddecisive»Alla brott ska effektivt och utan undantag beivras« (party programme ↗)“All crimes shall be effectively and without exception prosecuted”
- polluter pays»Miljöpolitiken ska bygga på principen att förorenaren ska betala« (party programme ↗)“Environmental policy shall be based on the principle that the polluter shall pay”
- against transnational crime»motverka allvarlig gränsöverskridande brottslighet« (party programme ↗)“counter serious transnational crime”
- expanded justice system»Hela rättsväsendet behöver byggas ut.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The entire justice system needs to be expanded.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan explicitly promises toughened penalties for environmental crimes and observes that the penalty for violations of the Environmental Code in many cases remains at a low fine level.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly promises toughened penalties for environmental crimes and observes that the penalty for violations of the Environmental Code in many cases remains at a low fine level. It also wants strong penalty increases upon reoffending and a stronger customs to stop illegal export. The counter-proposal's requirement for stricter waste legislation and toughened penalties for waste crimes thus follows directly from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen lovar uttryckligen skärpta straff för miljöbrott och konstaterar att straffet för brott mot miljöbalken i många fall stannar vid ett lågt bötesbelopp. Den vill också ha kraftiga straffskärpningar vid återfall och en starkare tull för att stoppa olaglig utförsel. Motförslagets krav på stramare avfallslagstiftning och skärpta straff för avfallsbrott följer därmed direkt av planen.
- toughened penalties for environmental crimesdecisive»Skärpa straffen för miljöbrott och nedskräpning och ge ordningsvakter befogenhet att dela ut böter för småskräp« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Toughen penalties for environmental crimes and littering and give regulatory inspectors the authority to issue fines for minor litter”
- current penalties too low»Antalet anmälda miljöbrott ökar samtidigt som uppklarningsgraden minskar. Straffet för den som blir dömd för brott mot miljöbalken stannar i många fall vid ett lågt bötesbelopp.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The number of reported environmental crimes is increasing while the clearance rate is decreasing. The penalty for those convicted of violations of the Environmental Code in many cases remains at a low fine level.”
- penalty increases on reoffending»Införa ett system med kraftiga straffskärpningar vid återfall« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a system with strong penalty increases upon reoffending”
- stronger customs against export»Stärka tullen med mer resurser och kraftfulla befogenheter för att stoppa stöldligor och vapensmugglare« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen customs with more resources and powerful authorities to stop theft rings and arms smugglers”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan wants to sharply increase penalties, introduce zero tolerance so that even minor crimes are investigated and prosecuted, and give the justice system tools against organized crime.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to sharply increase penalties, introduce zero tolerance so that even minor crimes are investigated and prosecuted, and give the justice system tools against organized crime. According to the counter-proposal, waste crime is linked to organized crime and leads to dumping that contaminates land, something the plan moreover wants to prioritize addressing.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill kraftigt skärpa straffen, införa nolltolerans så att även mindre allvarliga brott utreds och lagförs, och ge rättsväsendet verktyg mot den organiserade brottsligheten. Avfallsbrottsligheten är enligt motförslaget kopplad just till organiserad brottslighet och leder till dumpning som förorenar mark, något planen dessutom vill prioritera att åtgärda.
- sharply increased penaltiesdecisive»Sverigedemokraterna vill kraftigt skärpa straffen och genomföra kraftiga satsningar på polis, åklagare och anstalter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Sweden Democrats want to sharply increase penalties and carry out strong efforts on police, prosecutors and prisons.”
- zero tolerance for crime»Införa nolltolerans mot brott så att även mindre allvarliga brott utreds och lagförs« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce zero tolerance for crime so that even minor crimes are investigated and prosecuted”
- tools against organized crime»Ge rättsväsendet resurser och verktyg för att bekämpa gängen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give the justice system resources and tools to combat gangs”
- remediation of contamination»Ökad prioritet i arbetet med att återställa förorenade områden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increased priority in work to restore contaminated areas.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:MJU17)
- Committee report full text (HB01MJU17)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1067 — Importkontroll av skinn av Helén Pettersson och Åsa Karlsson (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:107 — Återvinning av solceller av Margareta Cederfelt (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1096 — Ökad användning av avfall och restprodukter av Markus Wiechel och Victoria Tiblom (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1133 — Pant på batterier av Jan Ericson (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1205 — Minskad plastanvändning och främjande av återvinningsinitiativ av Serkan Köse (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1253 — Ekonomiska garantier för avfallsplatser av Martina Johansson och Malin Björk (båda C)
- Motion 2023/24:1263 — Matsvinn i livsmedelshandeln av Anders Ådahl (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1375 — Konsumenternas valfrihet när det gäller säkra produkter av Larry Söder (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:1400 — Gemensamt ansvar för rena stränder av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1519 — En grön klimathandlingsplan för Sverige av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1520 — Minskad användning av plast och förenklad återvinning av Emma Nohrén m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1521 — Ett robust och modernt va-system av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1633 — Sveriges 13 sämsta lagar av Rickard Nordin och Niels Paarup-Petersen (båda C)
- Motion 2023/24:1759 — Pant på saftflaskor - en stor miljövinst av Michael Rubbestad (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1768 — Införande av pantsystem för färgpatroner av Michael Rubbestad (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1770 — Obligatoriskt mottagande av importburkar och flaskor av Michael Rubbestad (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1784 — Fritidsbåtar av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1808 — Olagliga komposter av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1873 — För havets och människans framtid av Emma Nohrén m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1996 — Förbud mot PFAS i Sverige, EU och världen av Magnus Manhammar (S)
Source: The Swedish Parliament