For two years, 50 shipping containers of Canadian garbage have
been expensively rotting in the Philippines, at the expense of
Filipinos. The containers were shipped as recyclable plastic
scrap in 2013, but reportedly contained a
mixture of plastics with other household wastes, including
adult diapers. It is contrary to Philippines law to import mixed
wastes, so the government impounded the shipment.
Filipino environmental groups argue that Canada should take the
waste back under the Basel Convention. Canada has
refused, as the
Basel Convention only applies to hazardous wastes, and
Philippine shipment, while disgusting, is not "hazardous"
under the Convention.
Ontario-based Chronic Inc. reportedly shipped the
"recyclables" to Manila for processing by its
Valenzuela-based consignee, Chronic Plastics. Chronic Inc. no
longer seems to be in business. Canada says the matter
is a private contractual dispute between the two
companies.
