Canada trash shipment leaves PH

The chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has lauded the reshipment of trash from Canada Friday, saying it was a joyous occasion. Sixty-nine trash-filled container vans that have been languishing in the Philippines for over half a decade are finally en route to where they came from: Canada.

The Maersk's MV Bavaria docked in Subic Bay around 3 p.m. Thursday, and left past 7 a.m. Friday.

Aside from the garbage, the ship also has 150 shipping containers as it is taking the regular commercial route.

MV Bavaria will make a stop in Taiwan before heading straight to the port of Vancouver in Canada where it is due to arrive on June 22. Canadian media reports have said the garbage will be incinerated in Burnaby.

MV Bavaria is expected to arrive at the Port of Vancouver in Canada on June 22. Local Canadian Press reported, once back in Canada, the garbage will be burned in a waste-to-energy facility in Burnaby.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma said the departure of the unwanted shipment was a momentous occasion.

"We thank President Rodrigo Duterte for his decisive action that brought about a satisfactory conclusion to this sordid chapter in our history. This is one proud moment for all Filipinos," she said in a statement.

She noted that the SBMA documented the whole procedure from the time MV Bavaria docked in Subic’s New Container Terminal-1 to the loading of the containers Thursday to the ship's departure.

Groups celebrated the event, saying they were "jubilant" after the ship left port.

“We feel jubilant that 69 containers of Canadian rubbish are now homeward bound after being stranded here for so long,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition. “The Philippines is not the world's dumpsite. Never again shall we allow other countries to trash our dignity, our people's health and the environment.”

Kathleen Ruff of RightOnCanada, a rights advocacy campaign based in the North American country, said it was a "victory for the environment and a victory for the rule of law."

“The Canadian government is now finally going to comply with the Basel Convention and take responsibility for its own wastes. This is what environmental responsibility means," said Ruff.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddyboy" Locsin Jr. said Canada paid for fumigation, ship side loading, and shipping, which was estimated to cost around P10 million.

The International Container Terminal Services Incorporated waived all costs on land.

MV Bavaria is expected to arrive at the Port of Vancouver in Canada on June 22, after a stopover in Taiwan. Local Canadian press reported the garbage will be incinerated in Burnaby.

The 69 container vans of trash are what remains of the more than 2,500 tons of waste illegally shipped in batches in 2013 and 2014 by Canadian company Chronic Plastics Inc. The company declared the trash in 103 container vans as "recyclable plastic scraps."

Customs officials earlier said the contents of 34 container vans have already been disposed of.

Environmental activists from Ecowaste Coalition, however, said only 26 container vans have been accounted for. They called on the government to disclose where the contents of the eight other container vans were dumped

The Manila Regional Trial Court is still hearing cases on alleged violations of environmental and customs laws against Canadian firm Chronic Plastics and customs brokers involved in smuggling the garbage. (CNN Philippines)

PHOTOS:

[1] The port in Subic Bay in the Philippines where a transport vessel, MV Bavaria, is berthed to load waste (theguardian.com) 

[2] SBMA Chairman & Administrator Wilma T. Eisma speaks with journalists after witnessing the departure of MV Bavaria from the Port of Subic. (MPD/SBMA)

[3] MV Bavaria sails out from the Port of Subic, together with 69 containers of mixed household waste sent by a Canadian private company to the Philippines in 2013 and 2014 (CNN Philippines)

http://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/5/31/sbma-canada-trash-reshipment.html


SBMA'S OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE PULLOUT OF CANADIAN TRASH FROM SUBIC BAY


"Finally, the containers of garbage transported from Canada and stored at the Subic Bay Freeport for several years now have been pulled out as of today, May 31, 2019.

"A total of 69 garbage-laden containers — 67 of which have been in Subic for the past few years, and 2 recently brought in from Manila — were loaded onto MV Bavaria, a Liberian-flagged container ship commissioned to transport the containers back to Canada.

"The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority documented the whole procedure — from the docking of the ship at Subic’s New Container Terminal-1 in the afternoon of May 30, to the loading of all the 69 containers last night, and up to the departure of the vessel from Subic Bay early this morning.

"We thank President Rodrigo Duterte for his decisive action that brought about a satisfactory conclusion to this sordid chapter in our history.

"This is one proud moment for all Filipinos."

Atty. Wilma T. Eisma
SBMA Chairman & Administrator