Medical-waste disposal in the spotlight

27 Jul 2010

Olivier Meyer, former-CEO of Wasteman, will appear in court in Welkom today, 27 July 2010, to answer charges relating to medical waste that was dumped in Welkom in 2009 - and the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) is backing authorities to take strong action against medical waste disposal companies that transgress the law.

"The institute supports the strongest punishment by the court of those found guilty for the illegal disposal of medical waste at a few sites near Welkom" said the immediate past president of the IWMSA, Vincent Charnley. Charnley also said that the medical dumping in Welkom is a national environmental disaster in South Africa and never has anything happened on such a large scale. The culprits thought they would get away with it as it happened over a period of time, however, the Green Scorpions caught up with them.

The current president of the IWMSA, Stan Jewaskiewitz, also deplored the behaviour and reiterated, "It is our duty to society to look after and protect them from organizations that will put their health at risk through negligence and profit driven greed".

Fine can be as much as R10 million

Meyer is answering charges relating to the illegal disposal of medical waste. The CEO has been charged by the Green Scorpions and is on bail of R200 000. The Green Scorpions have instructed Wasteman Holdings to clean the sites of dumping. The CEO is a French national and his passport has been confiscated by the Green Scorpions. The IWMSA has also suspended Wasteman Holdings as a patron member.

In a statement made during the investigation, Charnley had indicated, "I trust that the Green Scorpions will do a thorough investigation and bring those guilty to book. The owner of Maximus Brick in Welkom, Gavin Brasher, must honestly divulge all information as this was part of a bigger investigation". Brasher has also been charged and has appeared in court.

This is the first case of its kind after the formalization and promulgation of the new Waste Act which was signed into parliament in 2008. The guilty parties may be fined up to R10 million. The IWMSA will support the authorities with any assistance that they may require, so that the investigation can be resolved speedily and those responsible charged.

Should the public find any illegal medical waste being disposed, they should call the Green Scorpions or notify the IWMSA head office on +27 (0) 11 675 3462/4.

For more information go to www.iwmsa.co.za.