Dutch impounding of Irish waste turns spotlight on China trade

THE controversy over Ireland’s export of waste to China took another twist over the weekend when it emerged a shipment had to be impounded in Rotterdam last month because it was contaminated.

The six containers holding 127 tonnes of plastic was dispatched from Cork to China for recycling in early January. However, it was stopped by officials in the Netherlands on January 6 following a tip-off.

Customs officials found the plastic was covered in soil.

In such circumstances the material should always be clean as farm waste can spread animal diseases to other countries.

Last month the Government was slated after it emerged thousands of tonnes of waste were being exported to China without authorities having any knowledge of what was ultimately being done with it, particularly whether it was being dumped.

It emerged up to 50,000 tonnes of cardboard, paper, plastics and metal was sold to China each year.

An internal Department of the Environment email dated April 2006 showed concerns from a number of EU states.

“There’s a large amount of waste being shipped to China… we need to ensure it is not being dumped,” it said. “Efforts by the Irish Ministry for the Environment to set up contacts with the Chinese authorities to that end have to date been unsuccessful.”

The shipment impounded by Dutch authorities last month will remain in its possession until it carries out a full investigation, including speaking to both Dutch and Irish authorities.

Dublin City Council, which is the designated national office for the exportation of waste, is also carrying out an investigation into the origins of the plastic.

This is the second time waste from Ireland destined for Asia has been impounded in Rotterdam because it was contaminated.

Friends of the Irish Environment said it had warned the Department of the Environment in October about the growing problems with the export of contaminated Irish farm waste plastic.