- 注册时间
- 2004-7-1
- 最后登录
- 1970-1-1
- 日志
- 阅读权限
- 200
|
楼主 |
发表于 2006-12-23 16:30:58
|
显示全部楼层
回复: Dangerous waste bound for China is intercepted
Vancouver Sun, VoicePrint
A joint investigation by federal agencies has exposed Canada's dirty role as a major illegal exporter of hazardous waste to developing countries.
Fifty containers loaded with about 500,000 kg of metal and plastic scrap destined for China and Hong Kong were seized at the Port of Vancouver.
Environment Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency report that the electronic waste seized from 27 Canadian companies since November 2005 came from across
Canada, but mainly Quebec and Ontario.
The waste included thousands of computer monitors containing products such as lead, along with lead-acid batteries, and fluorescent lamp ballasts containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), proven to be toxic to both the environment and humans.
"This is the tip of the iceberg," Emmanuel Mendoza, enforcement engineer for Environment Canada, said in an interview Thursday. "We're dealing with a very large, relatively unknown industry."
While there is foreign demand for recycling some electronic waste, Mendoza believes the greater rationale for the illegal trade is that it is cheaper to dispose of such products offshore than to do so properly in Canada.
Export of the toxic material is a violation of Chinese and Hong Kong domestic laws, Canadian law, and the Basel Convention, adopted in 1989 to regulate the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes.
Mendoza does not know exactly where all the computer waste originated, but wouldn't be surprised if it included a combination of private, company and even government agencies, reinforcing the need for everyone to take greater care in ensuring their e-waste is properly recycled.
"Seller beware," he said. "Be wary and discerning on who you deal with in terms of recycling."
And while the joint operation has raised public awareness of the issue of illegal export of electronic waste, don't expect any of the violators to end up in jail any time soon. Ottawa won't even tell you who they are.
Ivan Peterson, chief of marine waterfront and warehouse inspections for the Canada Border Services Agency, confirmed that the 27 companies have been assessed out-of-court administrative penalties of $50,801 -- less than than $2,000 apiece -- under the Customs Act.
The civil penalties are based on a graduating scale and meant to be "corrective rather than punitive," he said. As such, Ottawa won't reveal the company names.
"We hope these exporters get a clear message. They must adhere to our regulations and international obligations."
Environment Canada is also continuing an investigation into potentially more serious charges under the Environmental Protection Act. Fines on summary conviction can reach $300,000 or six months in jail to a maximum fine of $1 million and three years in jail upon indictable conviction.
"Our goal is to prevent the export of these from Canada," said Mendoza, who believes the companies involved knew they were acting illegally. Peterson said his officers targeted about 200 containers during their investigation, 50 of which contained illegal hazardous waste and recyclable materials. "The number of shipments of scrap leaving the country is certainly on the increase." |
|
发表于 2006-12-23 16:25:37
发表于 2006-12-26 19:53:16
