Two Thousand Tons of Toxic Waste to be Disposed of in UN Project

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With the implementation of a UN project, more than two thousand tons of toxic waste that has been stored for 30 years will be disposed of, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanism has announced.

The ministry's statement came as a response to an information request by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). Accordingly, the disposal of the waste will be completed by the end of 2020. The project will be implemented by the UN Development Agency and the ministry.

The total amount of the waste in Derince district of the western Kocaeli province was 2,010 tons, the ministry informed. 868.1 tons of waste was packaged and sent to a waste purification and burning facility in İzmir province and 314 tons have been disposed of so far.

CHP Kocaeli MP Tahsin Tahran said there was "pleasing news" in the ministry's response and they hope that the project would be completed as planned.

He called on the ministry to run the process "transparently" and ensure the widest possible participation, adding that they will pursue the case.

Banned in all over the world

"Tons of BHC waste, a DDT derivative the use of which is banned all around the world and was banned in our country as well in 1985, is a topic that we are still talking about despite the 30 years that have passed.

"Due to the high cost, no results have been achieved for years. We don't know what kind of environmental damage we've suffered from these wastes for 30 years. These wastes are dangerous enough to have vital consequences for all living things." (TP/VK)