After years of struggle, the removal of 20 tons of zinc waste illegally transported from Germany to Poland has finally begun in the town of Tuplice in the Lubuskie region. For years, locals have been calling for the cleanup of the toxic materials that have been an eyesore and environmental hazard.
The operation was set in motion after the Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment reached an agreement with the German government in May this year, setting a timeline for the waste removal. The first trucks and excavators arrived in Tuplice on October 8, kicking off the removal process, as confirmed by the General Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (GIOŚ) spokesperson Maciej Karczyński.
“The removal of illegal zinc slag waste, which has been piling up in Tuplice, has finally started. This is part of the agreement with the German side to remove all identified illegal waste transported from Germany to Poland,” Karczyński said.
The cleanup, initially expected to begin in August, was delayed due to logistical disagreements. Local authorities struggled to resolve issues regarding storage and sanitation facilities for the equipment needed for the operation. Finally, the heavy machinery arrived, and the trucks loaded the first batch of waste to be sent back to Germany.
Germany to Bear Cleanup Costs
The waste removal will be fully financed by Germany, as stipulated in the agreement reached earlier this year. According to Paulina Henning-Kloska, Poland’s Minister of Climate and Environment, this outcome is the result of effective diplomacy rather than a more aggressive approach
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After years of waiting, the residents of Tuplice in the Lubuskie region, close to the German border, are finally seeing action on the removal of 20 tons of illegal zinc waste that were transported from Germany.
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“Germany will cover the costs of waste removal. This shows the power of diplomacy over threats. We will also tackle other illegal waste sites in the future,” Henning-Kloska stated in a post on social media.
Work is expected to continue until the end of the year, as per the schedule. Once the cleanup is complete, it will mark the resolution of a long-standing environmental issue that began nearly a decade ago.
A Broader Problem of Illegal Waste
The illegal transport of waste from Germany to Poland has been a recurring problem. In 2015, inspectors from the Provincial Inspectorate of Environmental Protection in Zielona Góra discovered the illegal zinc waste during a routine inspection in Tuplice. At the time, it was determined that the responsible parties were based in Germany.
Despite numerous complaints and calls for action from Polish authorities, Germany remained unresponsive for years. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Poland escalated the issue by filing a formal complaint against Germany with the European Commission in 2023, later involving the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). The European Commission ruled in favor of Poland, demanding that the waste be returned to Germany.
Tuplice is just one of several Polish towns facing similar environmental challenges. An estimated 35 tons of illegal waste have been transported across the border into Poland. Other affected locations include Stary Jawor, Sobolew, Gliwice, Sarbia, Bzów, and Babin, all of which are awaiting cleanup.
Background and International Context
Illegal waste dumping across national borders has become a significant issue for several countries in the European Union. While the EU has regulations in place to prevent such incidents, enforcement often becomes a legal battle between nations. In this case, Poland’s persistent diplomatic efforts have led to the resolution of the Tuplice issue.
The removal of waste from Tuplice serves as a reminder of the broader need for stronger cross-border environmental protections and enforcement within the EU. While the situation in Tuplice is being resolved, other locations in Poland and neighboring countries continue to grapple with illegal waste shipments and hazardous materials from abroad.
The successful completion of the Tuplice cleanup will likely set a precedent for future waste removal cases across Europe, particularly in cases involving transnational environmental violations.
