Gov't to strengthen import inspection on waste from Japan
The government will toughen its inspections of waste imports from Japan ― a move seen as a response to Tokyo's recent export curbs on Korea, according to the Ministry of Environment, Friday. / Reuters-Yonhap
By Kim Jae-heun
The government will toughen its inspections of waste imports from Japan ― a move seen as a response to Tokyo's recent export curbs on Korea.
According to the Ministry of Environment on Friday, battery, tire and plastic waste will be on the radar for its newly strengthened environmental and health safety inspections.
The government body promised to beef up radioactive and heavy metals tests, reflecting the public concern over contaminated waste that has been imported here for the purpose of recycling.
The measure is seen as a follow-up to the environment ministry's decision to tighten inspections of Japanese coal ash imports, Aug. 8.
“The government plans to impose additional controls on waste imports here that come in a large volume,” a ministry official said. “There are growing concerns from the public over radioactive waste coming from Japan.”
According to the ministry, 2.54 million tons of recyclable waste have been imported from the world, with only 170,000 tons exported, nearly 15 times less.
Last year, the import of coal ash from around the world recorded 1.27 million tons, accounting for 50 percent of all waste imports, followed by 470,000 tons of used batteries, or 18.5 percent. Korea also purchased 240,000 tons of used tires and 170,000 tons of plastic waste, which constituted 9.5 percent and 6.6 percent of the total waste imports, respectively.
Local firms extract lead from used batteries, while using used tires in cement manufacturing. Plastic waste is recycled into fuel or petrochemical products.
While all of the imported coal ash came from Japan in 2018, according to the environment ministry, Korea imported the most used batteries from the United States with 143,000 tons, followed by Japan in second with 71,000 tons and the United Arab Emirates in third with 69,000 tons.
As for used tires, Japan ranked fourth with 7,000 tons sent to Korea behind Australia, the United States and Italy which exported 106,000 tons, 72,000 tons and 48,000 ton, respectively.
As for plastic waste, Korea also imported the most from Japan with 66,000 tons.
The ministry said it will also increase the number of on-site inspections of local waste importers from once a quarter to more than once a month. In case inspections detect excessive heavy metals or radioactive contamination, the imported materials will be ordered back to the exporters.