Toxic waste/ Fjoralba Dizdari: Albanian government in silence, some institutions in scandal

2024-09-11 11:20:00, Politikë CNA

Toxic waste/ Fjoralba Dizdari: Albanian government in silence, some institutions

Member of the National Council of the DP, Fjoralba Dizdari

The member of the DP National Council, Fjoralba Dizdari, made a denunciation at noon this Wednesday about the toxic waste scandal.

In a press statement, Dizdari accused the government of the transparency of this issue.

She said that returning these wastes and depositing them in the port of Durrës endangers the health of the citizens and harms the city's tourism.

The member of the DP National Council raised a number of questions, while emphasizing that toxic waste is a corrupt affair involving many institutions.

Full statement:

After the denunciation of 800 tons of hazardous waste destined for Southeast Asia, this cargo is currently being returned to the port of Durrës, as the country of origin. The Albanian government has not yet made transparent to the public the plan of measures for the systematization of this emergency situation.

Depositing these wastes in the port of Durrës endangers the health of the citizens and harms the city's tourism.

From 2022, the KURUM company has produced over 10,000 Tons of hazardous waste.

Where did this amount of subjects end up?

Who can tell us how many Tons of hazardous waste Albania has exported in recent years?

Why is the Albanian Government silent and has not yet clarified the public opinion, how is it possible that the Company "Sokolaj" shpk transported hundreds of Tons of dangerous substances, without the corresponding license of the Ministry of Environment and without being accompanied by analysis sheets?

Why are "Albanian Customs" silent in the face of the false declaration of the company Sokolaj shpk. not only for the type of materials it exported, but also for the purchase price. She stated that she bought the cargo for 50 Euros per Ton. Meanwhile, on the stock market, Zinc Oxide is bought at 1500 Euros per Ton and that of Iron at 500 Euros per Ton.

But this case is only the tip of the iceberg, as our experts claim that Albania produces another 20,000 tons of hazardous waste. Of which, only 15 thousand Tons are waste produced from the dismantling of electrical and electronic equipment, and about another 2,500 Tons, used industrial oils, not to mention 1000 Tons of organic waste.

Meanwhile, what has the Socialist Party done that still after 11 years, we do not have any kind of strategy for taking immediate measures to deal with these wastes?

Moreover, since 2015, the only center for the collection and treatment of dangerous chemicals is located in the village of "Balëz e Poshtme", in the city of Elbasan.

Are the residents of this village informed about the dangerousness of this landfill and have all measures been taken to ensure the life and health of the residents of the entire area?

This center is contrary to EU standards, while we raise the alarm that it could turn into an ecological bomb with serious consequences, not only for this administrative unit.

Referring to the act of "Strategic Policies and National Plan for Integrated Waste Management, 2020 - 2035", published in the Official Gazette, on May 27, 2020, the Albanian government officially admits failure.

Here's what the document says:

"... There is no basic infrastructure for hazardous waste management in Albania. Moreover, there are no data on the amount and streams of waste. The places for the construction of facilities for the management of hazardous waste or reception centers have not yet been determined in any region or city of the country....

This is a corrupt affair, which involves many institutions at once.

The Democratic Party raises the alarm that the waste situation is a national emergency, therefore we invite citizens to unite against the failed and corrupt government of Edi Rama and to stop the environmental disaster in the name of future generations./ CNA