The Environment Agency has launched an investigation into an alleged illegal shipment of waste electrical and electronic equipment from Tilbury in the UK to Nigeria.
The Nigerian National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) impounded two containers, which were marked as used electrical and electronic equipment (UEEE), at Tin Can Island Port in the countrys capital Lagos on January 5.
The containers entered the port on the vessel MV Marivia, which is operated by transportation firm Delmas, a subsidiary of multinational shipping container group CMA CGM, based in Marseille, France.
The Nigerian authorities have ordered that the containers be returned to the UK, and have issued a $1million (632,000) fine to CMA CGM. The MV Marivia has been detained at the port until a fine has been paid.
NESREA said that the cargo, which was shipped from Tilbury last month and consisted of used electrical and electronic equipment including televisions and computer equipment, represented a danger of pollution as it did not have certification showing it was reusable.
Investigation
The source of the waste has not yet been revealed, but the Environment Agency has been in communication with the Nigerian authorities over the incident.
A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said: “We have concerns about two containers suspected to be ‘e-waste’ that were shipped out via Tilbury to Lagos on the MV Marivia. We are keeping in touch with the Nigerian authorities and continuing our investigations in the UK.
CMA CGM is awaiting a court hearing in Lagos on January 28 where it will be decided if the fine will be upheld.
A spokesman for CMA CGM said: CMA CGM, charterers of container vessel Marivia, confirm that the vessel remains at Tin Can Island, Nigeria. Discussions are ongoing with the Nigerian authorities. The vessel was detained in relation to two containers loaded in Felixstowe, UK, which were declared by the shippers as containing Used Electronics and Domestic Appliances.
He continued: Following discharge of these containers and an inspection at Tin Can Island, the Nigerian authorities requested that they be re-loaded as they may represent a possible toxic danger. This was undertaken. The Nigerian authorities have now demanded that a fine be paid before the vessel can sail. CMA CGM continues to work with the authorities and it is understood that the Nigerian Courts will hear the case on Thursday January 28 where it is hoped that the issue will be settled.
Proposed changes to the UK’s WEEE system are set to be discussed at a one-day conference in London on May 1 2013 hosted by letsrecycle.com, entitled Reshaping the WEEE Regulations. To find out more, click here.
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