Toxic waste will not be exported to Britain
Environment Minister Bob Pearce says he will not allow Western Australia's toxic waste to be exported to Britain, which is not a party to the Basel Convention.
Environment Minister Bob Pearce says he will not allow Western Australia's toxic waste to be exported to Britain, which is not a party to the Basel Convention.
"Exports from Western Australia will only be allowed in accordance with the Basel Convention," Mr Pearce said.
The convention was established in 1989 under the United Nations' environment program to prevent Third World countries becoming a dumping ground for toxic waste.
It requires that developed nations use their own waste disposal facilities.
However, it allows countries which cannot dispose of their own waste to export to countries which are operating safe facilities.
Mr Pearce said it was imperative that Western Australia rid itself of its stockpile of toxic waste products, now being stored at various sites around the State.
"We are in a difficult position; although there have been several moves to deal with intractable wastes in Australia, there has been no final action to establish disposal facilities in WA," Mr Pearce said.
"Some sections of the community want to bury the problem until a miracle solution is found - this amounts to ignoring the problem and I am not going to be so irresponsible.
"This stockpile of intractable wastes, which include hazardous PCBs and pesticides, cannot be allowed to just sit here in WA when there are safe, modern and efficient facilities in other countries willing to dispose of them for us.
"I have two export proposals before me at present, they concern the transport of WA's waste to the Port of Fremantle for export overseas.
"The EPA has found that both transport proposals are environmentally acceptable.
"My jurisdiction only covers the transport of these wastes within WA - export licences are granted by the Federal Government.
"As such I have upheld the EPA's recommendation that the transport of the waste to the Port is environmentally acceptable.
"However, Ministerial conditions will include a requirement that the waste be exported only in accordance with the Basel Convention."
