space Press Releases, News Stories

Coalition Press Release

In a letter sent to the Environment Minister, Mr. Valli Moosa, today, the environmental organisations expressed their “shock” and “deep disappointment” that the government has so lightly dismissed commitments to the global community and in particular to all Africans, by authorising the toxic imports.

The environmental organisations, which include Greenpeace, Basel Action Network (BAN), Earthlife Africa, GroundWork and others, demanded that the government of South Africa takes an unequivocal stand against South Africa’s involvement in the international hazardous waste trade.

“Australia's export of hazardous waste to South Africa reveals this country’s total desregard to the people and environment of South Africa. It also betrayals the commitment taken by the government with the rest of the international community to halt all exports of hazardous wastes to developing countries," said Matt Ruchel from Greenpeace Australia.

In 1994, largely due to a strong push by African nations, the United Nations’ Treaty known as the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal adopted a decision banning exports of hazardous wastes for any reason from member states of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), such as Australia, to non-OECD countries, such as South Africa. At that time, Australia joined in the decision and stated they would abide by it. In 1995, the Basel Convention decided to take the further step of making the "Basel Ban" part of the actual text of the Convention through amendment. While the amendment has not yet recieved all of the necessary ratifications to enter into technical force, all Basel Parties, including Australia and South Africa are obliged to honour the decisions of the Basel Convention.

The 60 tonnes of hazardous waste that was imported from Australia also runs afoul of several Organization of African Unity (OAU) resolutions and the OAU's own Bamako Convention, which bans the import of all hazardous wastes into the continent of Africa. The Bamako Convention is in force but has not been ratified by South Africa.

"This is the first time that the 1994 Basel Convention's Dumping Ban decision has been intentionally violated," says Jim Puckett of BAN, an international waste trafficking watchdog organization. "And it is the first time an African country has intentionally imported toxic waste since 1994. The arrogance or naivete on the part of Australia and South Africa in this latest scheme makes a mockery of international agreements."

The toxic waste, called "paragoethite", which originates from the Australian mining and smelting giant Pasminco, contains high levels of lead and arsenic. It was sent to the South African firm Mintek where, according to the South African government, it was used for recycling "research" and then the residues were to be returned to Australia. So far the fate of the wastes and the amount of exposure to African workers and the contamination left on South African soil remains unknown

Arsenic damages many tissues including nerves, stomach and intestines, and skin. Breathing inorganic arsenic increases the risk of lung cancer and ingestion increases the risk of skin cancer and tumors of the bladder, kidney, liver, and lung. Lead can affect almost every organ and system in the human body. Exposure to lead is more dangerous for young and unborn children. Harmful effects include premature births, smaller babies, decreased mental ability in the infant, learning difficulties, and reduced growth in young children.

“The community of African nations have unequivocally stated “NO” to foreign toxic waste dumping on our continent," said Linda Ambler of groundWork in South Africa. “We demand that this never happens again, that South Africa renounce its part in waste trafficking forever hence and agrees to respect, ratify and implement the Bamako Convention and the Basel Ban Amendment as soon as possible."

-----------------

Note to Editors: The Basel Ban decision (1994) known as Decision II/12 and the Basel Ban Amendment Decision (1995) known as III/1 have no exemption for research. Recycling processes are specifically covered by the Basel Ban, as it is well understood that almost all waste trade in recent times is destined for recycling operations which are often highly polluting.

For a copy of the letters to the Australian and South African Government visit the Library of the Basel Action Network Website http//www.ban.org

For more information please contact:

Jim Puckett, Basel Action Network (BAN), Seattle, USA Tel/Fax +1-206-720-6426, E-mail jpuckett@ban.org

Linda Ambler groundWork, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Tel +27-33-342 5662, Fax +27-33-342 5665 E-mail groundwork@sn.apc.org

Matt Ruchel, Greenpeace Australia, Sydney Tel 61-+3 94789769, Fax 61-+3 94789256, Mobile 61-+408837138 E-mail matt.ruchel@dialb.greenpeace.org

Bryan Ashe, Earthlife Africa-Durban, South Africa, Tel/fax +27-31-2052178, Mobile+27-826521533, E-mail bryan@mweb.co.za

Marcelo Furtado, Greenpeace International, Brazil Tel +55-11-30661165, mobile +55-11-91697954, E-mail mfurtado@dialb.greenpeace.org