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Tunisia signs agreement to return illegally imported toxic waste back to Italy

February 15, 2022 at 2:58 pm

Port in Tunisia with containers of household waste from Italy, 26 November 2020 [FETHI BELAID/AFP/Getty Images]

The Tunisian Ministry of Environment said, on Monday, that it had signed an agreement with Italy to return illegally imported toxic waste.

A Tunisian company had imported more than 280 containers of waste illegally from Italy in 2020 and falsely claimed that the household waste – barred from import under Tunisia law – was, in fact, plastic scrap to be recycled.

The importation had sparked widespread anger, resulting in protests in Tunisia as people demanded that Italy take back its refuse.

The waste containers were brought in from the Campania region in southern Italy, and are currently being stored at a port in the Tunisian city of Sousse.

The Ministry said in a statement that the signing of the agreement represents a continuation of the process of consultation between the two countries, which began in 2020.

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“This agreement provides for the immediate re-export of 213 containers in a first phase, out of a total of 282 containers after the burning of 69 containers” it added.

The statement explained that consultations are continuing regarding the completion of exporting the waste remaining after the fire, which broke out at the suppliers’ warehouse in Sousse governorate.

“This waste will be returned on the first ship on 19 February,” the statement said.