THE South Korean Government has conducted its own investigation on the 5,100 tons of garbage from South Korean company Verde Soko II Industrial Corp. shipped to Mindanao International Container Terminal (MICT) in Tagoloan town and vowed to recall the wastes in question the soonest possible.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 21, the Government of the Republic of Korea, its Ministry of Environment, the Korea Customs Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that it already inspected the exporter of the wastes in Pyeongtaek City last November 16.
The inspection discovered plastic wastes mixed with significant amount of alien materials such as wood, metals, and trashes which had not gone through an appropriate recycling process.
The team also found another container in the nearby warehouse containing wastes in the same condition.
“The Ministry of Environment on November 21 initiated legal procedure to have the wastes in question in the Philippines be brought back in accordance with Article 20 of the Law on Cross-border movement and Disposal of Wastes—Prior Notice of Repatriation Order—and embarked on investigation of the violation of Article 18-2 of the said law—False Export Declaration,” the statement said.
Korea's Customs Service is also investigating the exporter in question. It also prohibited the exporter to ship goods further.
“Relevant authorities of Korea will have the wastes in question be repatriated and properly disposed and work to prevent recurrence of the problem,” it added.
The garbage shipment, discovered last July, contained used dextrose tubes, used diapers, batteries, bulbs, and electronic equipment.
The Verde Soko meanwhile said the plastics found in the shipment are to be recycled into pellets and briquettes, which will be shipped back to South Korea and China to be made into plastic furniture and other items.