Friday, March 29

The Government paralyzes one of the shipments of hazardous waste from Montenegro to the Nerva landfill


The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Miteco) has decided to revoke one of the authorizations for the transfer of hazardous waste from Montenegro to the Nerva landfill (Huelva). The measure is a consequence of the inspection carried out on one of the ships that brought the first tons of waste, proving (among other irregularities) that the amount of material was greater than that initially allowed.

Concentration against the arrival of 110,000 tons of waste to the Nerva landfill and they ask for its closure

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As indicated by the Ministry in a press release, the decision has been adopted within the framework of the provisions of Community Regulation number 1013/2006, of June 14, 2006, regarding the transfer of waste, having detected “non-compliance ” of the transfer authorization adopted in the file identified as MNE1206 regarding the amount of materials shipped and the ship in charge of the freight.

The authorization allowed the transfer of waste identified as “earth and stones containing dangerous substances.” Thus, according to the Miteco, the irregularities have been verified as a result of the documentary inspection carried out by the Seprona of the Civil Guard last day 3 in the port of Seville, where the cargo was deposited.

In this sense, they have indicated that the agents, together with technicians from the Junta de Andalucía, verified that the amount transferred was 7,500 tons when the maximum authorized per shipment was 7,000. Likewise, they certified that the transport had been carried out on a ship “that did not correspond to any of those that Valgo had notified in order to obtain the required authorization”.

An illegal shipment under the Basel Convention

Consequently, the General Directorate for Quality and Environmental Assessment of Miteco has proceeded to revoke the transfer authorization and has officially notified the equivalent administrative body of Montenegro that the shipment is illegal under the terms provided by the Basel Convention, which regulates international transboundary transportation of hazardous waste and its disposal.

Likewise, the Ministry has initiated a sanctioning file for a serious infringement within the framework of the Law on Waste and Contaminated Soils which, if the infringements are confirmed, could lead to a fine of between 9,000 and 300,000 euros, as it is waste characterized as dangerous .

Likewise, the Miteco has brought these resolutions to the knowledge of the Junta de Andalucía and, likewise, has required, on the one hand, those responsible for the Nerva facility that “they do not admit those wastes covered by the initial transfer authorization that have not yet arrived “, and, on the other, has requested the Customs Department (State Tax Administration Agency) to “retain new shipments at the border that may arrive as part of the same file.”

Waste Law

Currently, hazardous waste from Montenegro and other non-EU countries can be shipped to the EU for disposal, in accordance with the Basel Convention and the European waste shipment regulation.

Within the framework of the powers established in article 12.3 of the current Law 22/2011, of July 28, on Waste and Contaminated Soils, it is the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, through the General Directorate of Quality and Environmental Assessment, the competent authority for the authorization of shipments of waste from or to third countries not belonging to the EU.

Said authorization is granted after obtaining the prior consent of the autonomous communities affected by the transfer, as they are the competent administration for the authorization, inspection and sanction of waste treatment facilities in accordance with article 12.4 of the aforementioned law.

The new draft law on Waste and Contaminated Soil for a Circular Economy, which is in the last phase of parliamentary processing, has incorporated a provision so that the Miteco can prohibit, in a motivated manner, imports and exports of waste from or to countries third parties if there are indications that they will not be handled correctly.

Satisfaction in Nerva and Ecologists in Action

The decision of the central government has been described as “magnificent news” by the mayor of Nerva, José Antonio Ayala (PSOE), who has been “happy”, although he has indicated that “this is not the objective”, but rather that the is “a future without toxic waste”. This has been pronounced in statements to Europa Press, where Ayala has pointed out that the complaint filed by Ecologists in Action before the Seprona of the Civil Guard, as well as the criticism in the media “have served for this rapid action by the Ministry, of inspection and verification of these alleged irregularities, which has caused the arrival of waste from ships to be paralyzed for the time being”.

At this point, he has shown his desire that “this be the turning point for the administrations to understand that what was being said was true”, as well as for them to “sit down” with the people of Nerva and with the mayors of the Cuenca Minera region, “as has been requested” to “seek a different future after years of being mistreated environmentally”.

For its part, Ecologists in Action has welcomed “with satisfaction” the news of paralyzing the admission “of contaminated waste from Montenegro” to bury them in the Nerva landfill and has requested the “continuity” of the inspections, as indicated in a note of press. It is, as he pointed out, “a necessary first step to prevent Andalusia from becoming the dump and supermarket for toxic waste in Europe and outside Europe”, since they consider it “necessary” to maintain inspection and control actions of the transfer “of all imported hazardous waste that arrives by ship and by road destined for landfills, within the framework of the State Inspection Plan for cross-border shipments of waste approved in 2021 in force until 2026”.

They also recalled that Ecologists in Action denounced last week the activity of loading and unloading “thousands of tons of toxic substances” in the Port of the city of Seville, “with the possible double effect on the Sevillian citizens due to atmospheric pollution, and to the waters of the Guadalquivir river”. The organization considers that the inspections that have been carried out and that have given rise to this stoppage are the response to the complaints that it has developed.



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