Morocco Approves Controversial Import of 2 Million Tons of European Waste

According to the decision of the department of Leila Benali, 970,896 tons of waste will be imported from France, 20,000 tons from Italy, 30,054 tons from Spain, 1.5 million tons from the United Kingdom, 60,000 tons from Sweden, and 100,000 tons from Norway. This decision "is in contradiction with the Moroccan Constitution, which stipulates the right of citizens to live in a healthy environment, as well as with the laws and strategies adopted by Morocco to preserve the environment and promote a sustainable development model and a fair energy transition," denounces in a statement the coordinator of the Environmental Gathering of northern Morocco and president of the Space for Solidarity and Cooperation of the Eastern Region.

To support his argument, he recalled that "Morocco has adopted a series of laws, implementing decrees and strategies to preserve the environment and sustainable development." He says he has trouble understanding that despite "this legal framework aimed at achieving the objectives set in the field of environmental preservation and sustainable development," the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development decides to authorize the import of household waste and rubber tires from European countries. Without failing to draw attention to the negative effects on the environment and the health of citizens, air pollution, toxic gas emissions and greenhouse gases at the origin of climate change, as well as radioactive waste.

"As for the combustion of rubber tires for energy production, it is not environmentally friendly and contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, the cause of climate change," he added.