Sri Lanka finds hazardous waste in UK metal recycling cargo

The UK is planning to launch a formal investigation after the discovery in Colombo of hazardous clinical waste, including suspected human remains, thought to have been exported to Sri Lanka.

Officials at the port of Colombo discovered the rotting waste after a foul smell emerged from more than 100 containers, which had been imported under the cover of metal recycling. Sri Lanka’s environment agency has ordered the return of the waste.

It is common for wealthy countries such as the UK to pay to send their recyclable waste overseas to developing countries; the majority of these imports end up rotting in landfills or being illegally incinerated.

“We know it is clinical waste and we also suspect the containers to contain human remains as well due to the odour,” said Sunil Jayaratne, a Sri Lanka customs spokesperson. “It is very difficult to examine due to the odour and the fluids that are coming out of the containers.”

A spokesperson for the UK’s environment agency said the government was in touch with Sri Lankan officials: “We are in contact with the Sri Lankan authorities and have requested more information, which would allow us to launch a formal investigation.”

Environmentalists have expressed serious concerns over the containers, which they say pose a major risk to public health and have been stuck in Sri Lanka for up to two years.

In total, 241 containers were brought to Sri Lanka and 130 of these were taken to a free-trade zone for recycling and re-export, according to Sri Lankan customs. The imports contained a mixture of mattresses, plastics and hospital waste.

Suranjan Kodithuwakku, the chairman of the Green Movement of Sri Lanka, which represents more than 150 environmental groups, said there is a risk that groundwater and surface water may be contaminated.

The import of waste is a growing concern, added Kodithuwakku, who said materials were often burned in container yards in Colombo or taken to dumping grounds in populated areas. “It has been recorded continuously that [there are cases] of water-borne diseases, skin diseases and respiratory diseases because of these garbage dumps,” he said. “These kinds of things still aren’t properly managed by the authorities.”

Jayaratne said a team had been appointed to investigate the containers. “We have to send it back to the country of export very soon. We have to take action against the culprits also. We will first send the goods back and then take the action. According to the Basel convention, the country of export is responsible for the goods.”

The Basel convention was passed in 1989, following concerns about the dumping of hazardous waste in poorer countries. In May, an amendment to the convention stated that nations have the power to block the import of contaminated or hard-to-recycle plastic rubbish.