Environmental crimes

POLICE have arrested five employees of an industrial landfill in Murcia.
The activity of industrial waste dumping for two decades in the Valle de Escombreras has always been questioned, despite having all the administrative authorisations to handle, treat and bury hazardous waste but now, evidence has been collected alleging that toxic waste has been buried without being treated correctly.
Residents of neighbouring villages and environmental groups have long denounced the industrial waste saying it wasn’t handled correctly and now the Association of Southeast Naturalists (ANSE) is demanding the closure of the landfill and for environmental restoration of the area.
They are also asking for the development of a programme of long-term monitoring to ensure the waste stored is not harmful to people’s health.
The plant received four fines in 2001 for the mismanagement of waste and now agents from SEPRONA, the environmental branch of the Guardia Civil, have arrested five workers on suspicion of environmental crimes. Police carried out inspections and analysis of the ground and waste as part of the investigation.
and found that much of the hazardous waste received was buried after being handled by workers ignoring the health and safety measures required.