Christal-Lize Muller
The Department of Environmental Affairs is on high alert and won’t hesitate to act against those who do not deal responsibly with the medical waste they generate.
In the past only transporters of waste were liable. This comes after the department’s Green Scorpions discovered medical waste dumped illegally at an inappropriate site in Bloemfontein yesterday.
The department’s, Frances Craigie, says the Scorpions have followed a zero tolerance approach to medical waste dumping since 2009. As a result there has been a decrease in the number of cases until a discovery in Durban in May this year and yesterday’s incident.
Volksblad reports a forensic pathologist, Leon Wagner, appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court yesterday in connection with illegally keeping medical waste. He was released on bail and will be back in court on October 17. Wagner is believed to be a medical waste transporter. He claims the incinerating company disposing the waste is no longer operational.
Craigie says clean up and removal notices will be issued at the Bloemfontein site after which the waste, including adult nappies and anatomic and pharmaceutical used products will be taken to a registered disposal site.
