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Ship Carrying Waste Returns to Canada From Philippines

Reuters

   A ship carrying 69 containersof waste mislabeled as plastic recyclables
   returned to CanadaonSaturday from the Philippines, closing a chapter on
   a disputethat started in 2013 and sparked a diplomatic furor
   betweenOttawa and Manila.

   The shipment was taken off the container ship Anna Maerskdocked close
   to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal and arrived atGCTDeltaport in Delta,
   British Columbia, part of GreaterVancouver,GCT said in a statement.

   Sarah Lusk, Metro Vancouver spokeswoman, said the wastewould be sent to
   a Waste-to-Energy facility in Burnaby whereitwill be incinerated, but
   added that there was "uncertainty withrespect to timing" and the
   facility may not receive the wasteover the weekend.

   The waste containers became part of a diplomatic disputebetween Manila
   and Ottawa, as Philippine PresidentRodrigoDuterte threatened Canada
   with war and withdrew topdiplomatsfrom Canada after Canada missed a May
   15 deadline to takebackthe waste.

   The waste was shipped to the Philippines in 2013 and 2014and mislabeled
   as recyclable plastics. Instead, it was filledwith garbage including
   used diapers and newspapers. APhilippinecourt ruled in 2016 that it be
   returned.

   Canadamade arrangementsin late May toacceptthecontainers and said they
   hired Bollore Logistics Canada tosafely bring them back as soon as
   possible.

   Waste disposal has emerged as a topic of political disputebetween
   Southeast Asian countries and the developedworld,withMalaysia in May
   becoming the latest to demand nations suchasthe United States, Japan,
   France, Canada, Australia andBritaintake back 3,000tonnesof plastic
   waste.

   The government department Environment andClimateChangeCanada told
   Reuters earlier this month that the governmentwasin talks with Malaysia
   to recover the plastic waste thatoriginated from Canada.

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