South Korea on Thursday (February 7) launched an investigation into containers of rubbish which were unlawfully exported to the Philippines and recently returned.
According to South Korea's Environment Ministry, 51 containers carrying 1,200 tonnes of trash were illegally exported to Cagayan de Oro port in Mindanao of the Philippines last year and returned to Pyeongtaek port on Sunday (February 3).
Philippine media reported that the shipments were declared as plastic synthetic flakes when they had instead contained wood, glass and electronic waste, as well as plastic.
Director of the government-affiliated Han River Basin Environmental Office, Lee Jong-Min, said authorities had investigated the waste exporting company and will work towards preventing such an incident from happening again. A remaining 5,100 tonnes of wrongfully exported waste, which is still in Mindanao, will also be ship back to South Korea, the ministry added. (Reuters)