Group hits e-waste shipment from SoKor

MANILA, Philippines — An environmental group has criticized the importation of around 53,000 metric tons of radioactive phosphogypsum from South Korea that were intercepted in Zambales on Friday.

“We deplore this... recent act of transferring into the country tons upon tons of phosphogypsum, a waste by-product of fertilizer production from phosphate rock, which is known to contain radioactive elements,” Thony Dizon, chemical safety campaigner of EcoWaste Coalition, said.

The shipment was declared as used television and electrical spare parts.

“We find the e-waste shipment... detestable. We have yet to complete the re-exportation to South Korea of contaminated plastic waste in Misamis Oriental and it seems that a new controversy involving a recent toxic shipment is looming,” Dizon said.

Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Customs (BOC) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested four officers and six crewmembers of a Liberian-registered vessel for unloading the toxic substance at the Cabangan Wharf.

“The decisive action taken by the PCG, NBI and BOC operatives amid intensified efforts to prevent hazardous waste exports to the Philippines must be supported. We hope they will hold their ground and get toxic shipments out of the country as soon as possible,” Dizon said.

EcoWaste said the government should impose a permanent ban on the importation of hazardous waste into the country.

It also sought the  immediate ratification of the Basel Convention amendment, which prohibits the export of hazardous wastes, including e-waste, for all reasons, including recycling. The amendment will be effective on Dec. 5.

“As the country’s principal regulatory and law enforcement bodies in charge of controlling and preventing hazardous waste trade, we request both the EMB (Environmental Management Bureau) and BOC to jointly investigate this matter,” Dizon said.