Poland to import toxic waste from El Salvador
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
28.11.2014 10:07
A shipment of 72 metric tons of toxic agricultural waste is on its way to be processed in Poland, Deputy Environment Minister Janusz Ostapiuk told a parliamentary hearing, Thursday.
Residents of Dabrowa Gornicza protest against the toxic waste transport from El Salvador, 26.11.2014 Photo: PAP/Andrzej Grygiel
The shipment is part of a 300-metric-ton deal Poland signed with El Salvador for the processing of waste which includes agricultural products: solid, liquid, and packaging from pesticides. The Minister revealed that the deal is worth 88 million euro.
The waste will be processed by Sarpi, a plant which specialises in hazardous waste based in Dabrowa Gornicza in southern Poland.
Deputy Minister Ostapiuk told the Sejm lower parliamentary house that the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection has already issued three permits for waste disposal at the plant. He also emphasised that the Polish facility meets international standards, and is at the same level as Sarpi plants in France and Germany.
“Because of the information which I got from Sarpi, other facilities in Europe are already overloaded and the Dabrowa Gornicza plant has spare capacity. It was decided that [the waste] will come to Poland,” Ostapiuk said.
The area’s residents have already protested the deal. The town's City Hall has expressed concern and a lack of understanding for the decision by the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection to allow the transport of waste into Poland. It also requested an in-depth analysis of the procedures issued by the Chief Inspector. (rg/jb)
Source: IAR