Mr. Nathaniel Blama, Executive Director, Environmental Protection AgencyMONROVIA – Authorities of the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) have averted what could have been a serious public health threat when they seized a shipment of hazardous waste smuggled into Liberia from Greece. Republic Waste Services, a Liberian registered firm smuggled the dangerous chemicals into the country in violation of Section 55 (1) of the Environmental Protection and Management Law (EMPL) of Liberia, which prohibits the illegal importation into Liberia of any hazardous waste or substance. “The team arrived at the port and, in the presence of the consignee and LRA anti-smuggling officers, collected samples from all four containers. Section 55 (5) of the EPML maintains that any person who imports hazardous waste or substances into Liberia shall be responsible for removal of the waste from Liberia and for its safe disposal. The EPA has lauded the staff of the Anti-Smuggling Unit of LRA and the custom officers for the prompt alert.

Source: Front Page Africa January 13, 2020 01:18 UTC