Town against Slovenian dangerous waste plans

There will not be any hazardous waste storage at the Gorenje factory in Valjevo, western Serbia, it has emerged. City authorities will not allow an “environmental bomb” to be put close to the downtown and a high school there, said reports. Town against Slovenian dangerous waste plans Kemis, a company working as part of the Slovenian Gorenje had plans to store hazardous waste collected in Serbia in this location in Valjevo, in a densly populated area near the city’s center. Kemis asked for a permit from the Environmental Ministry for the annual flow of 2,000 tons of waste which would be collected and “properly stored in accordance with European criteria”. The waste would than be transported to the EU countries for processing, they said. The company wished to store up to 50 tons of waste before transporting it abroad. The list on the Slovenian firm's request sent to the ministry includes such waste items as organic and halogen solvents, detergents, waste paint and varnishes, solid waste which contains dangerous substances, mineral and engine oils, components containing mercury, antifreeze, and lead from batteries. Up to 600 tons of transmission oil and five tons of cytotoxic and cytostatic drugs would pass through the storage as well. “The location for the storage would is unacceptable to the town authorities. In accordance with legal procedures, we’ve asked for the opinion of relevant organizations and institutions and the majority came out against storing of the hazardous waste at the Gorenje factory grounds” member of Valjevo city councilor Aleksandar Rankovic told Belgrade daily Vecernje novosti. The local community, The Consumers’ Organization, the Police Administration Fire Department, and Vidak Public Communal Enterprise have also come out against the idea. However, the Health Center in Valjevo declared itself “without jurisdiction” in the matter, while the Public Health Institute and the Institute for Nature Conservation are yet to state their position.

Town against Slovenian dangerous waste plans

Kemis, a company working as part of the Slovenian Gorenje had plans to store hazardous waste collected in Serbia in this location in Valjevo, in a densly populated area near the city’s center.

Kemis asked for a permit from the Environmental Ministry for the annual flow of 2,000 tons of waste which would be collected and “properly stored in accordance with European criteria”.

The waste would than be transported to the EU countries for processing, they said. The company wished to store up to 50 tons of waste before transporting it abroad.

The list on the Slovenian firm's request sent to the ministry includes such waste items as organic and halogen solvents, detergents, waste paint and varnishes, solid waste which contains dangerous substances, mineral and engine oils, components containing mercury, antifreeze, and lead from batteries.

Up to 600 tons of transmission oil and five tons of cytotoxic and cytostatic drugs would pass through the storage as well.

“The location for the storage would is unacceptable to the town authorities. In accordance with legal procedures, we’ve asked for the opinion of relevant organizations and institutions and the majority came out against storing of the hazardous waste at the Gorenje factory grounds” member of Valjevo city councilor Aleksandar Ranković told Belgrade daily Večernje novosti.

The local community, The Consumers’ Organization, the Police Administration Fire Department, and Vidak Public Communal Enterprise have also come out against the idea.

However, the Health Center in Valjevo declared itself “without jurisdiction” in the matter, while the Public Health Institute and the Institute for Nature Conservation are yet to state their position.