On Monday, there were further delays in the disposal of illegally stored waste from Tuplice, Lubuskie Voivodeship. The German company liable for the export of waste failed to scope an agreement with the Polish side, which resulted in the suspension of the shares.
Dispute over export conditions
The waste shipment planned for Monday was to start in the morning. However, due to the deficiency of agreement on logistical aspects of operations specified as retention of equipment and the setting of sanitary facilities, the action was halted. According to the mayor of Tuplice, Katarzyna Kromp: "We did not agree on the retention of equipment and the setting of sanitary facilities with the German side, which did not accept our solutions". As a result, the equipment essential for the operation left Tuplice.
Long Waiting for a Solution
The inhabitants of Tuplice Municipality and local authorities have been waiting for years to remove illegal waste that was imported into Poland from the German zinc mill in Chemnitz in 2014. "We've been waiting for 10 years to be exported, so let's wait again. This year the waste will be exported," said Wójt Kromp, expressing hope for a fast conclusion of this long-term matter.
The genesis of the problem
Waste was transported to Tuplic as slag waste with the hope of being utilized in the construction industry. Unfortunately, these plans were not implemented and the waste remained in Poland. Wójt Kromp recalled: “They came to us as slag waste. The owner assumed it would be utilized in the construction industry, but it did not."
Environmental monitoring
In the face of further delays, the Provincial Inspectorate for Environmental Protection (WIEZ) in Zielona Góra conducts regular studies to monitor the impact of waste on the local environment. As Joanna Michalik-Pietraszak, the WIET spokesman, stressed: “We keep monitoring and investigating whether waste has a negative environmental impact”. As part of the preventive action, on Monday, WIŚ took samples from the surrounding ponds to measure the environmental position before possible removal of waste. "We want to check the environmental position before the waste is exported," added Michalik-Pietrashak, while stressing that the studies to date have not shown any negative environmental impact of the waste.
Conclusion
A dispute with a German company delays the export of waste from Tuplic, which causes frustration both among local authorities and residents. Despite long waiting to solve the problem, municipal authorities stay optimistic and believe that in 2024 the waste will yet be disposed of. However, as fresh developments show, further negotiations and monitoring of the environment will be crucial to guarantee the safety of residents and effectively complete this long-term process.
Daniel Głogowski
Expert in his field – Publicist, author and social activist. The first articles were published in 1999 for global publishers. For more than 30 years, he has gained his experience through cooperation with the largest editorial offices. In his articles, he seeks to address controversial topics and present first viewpoints that allowed for a deeper knowing of the issues discussed.
Continued here:
Illegal waste from Germany will stay in Poland
