Al-Masry Al-Youm has witnessed the burning of a ton of medical waste seized from a plant owner in Abul Nomros city. The police broke into a factory for recycling medical waste and using it in manufacturing household appliances. All wastes were confiscated in a private car to be burnt in Al-Qasr Al-Aini Hospital. Colonel Yasser Khalil said: "We received a report from an unknown person to the effect that there is a plant in Abul Nomros village, Giza, that recycles plastic waste into raw plastic, using medical waste resulting from health facilities. The report was referred to the Minister of the Environment Magid George, who ordered that investigation be immediately launched in this regard. A committee was formed and discovered that the plant had no license." The plant owner was collecting plastic waste from Manshyat Nasser waste dump and selling it to plants in Shoubra Al-Khima to use it in making spoons, dishes and other household appliances.
Article 29 of the Environment Act prohibits the circulation of dangerous waste. In addition, Article 88 stipulates a five-year imprisoned at least and a fine of LE 20,000. “Once we entered the factory, we found large quantities of plastic and medical waste. The factory was closed down and its owner was referred to the prosecution,” he added.
For his part, General Director of the Environmental Inspection Department Emad Hamdi said the seized material included hoses and needles, all proved to be contaminated with blood. The dangerous thing is that they may be contaminated with AIDS or hepatitis C. Al-Masry Al-Youm witnessed the burning of the waste in Al-Qasr Al-Aini hospital.
