Toxics Campaign Press Conference Portrait of Matthias Wüthrich

Matthias Wüthrich, Toxics Campaigner for Greenpeace.

In original language:

Chemie Kampagne Bonfol Chemiemülldeponie in Basel

Basel, 29. September 2005: Eine neue in Basel an einer Medienkonferenz vorgestellte Greenpeace-Studie kommt zum Schluss: Die Basler Chemiekonzerne (BCI) haben erhebliche Mengen Dioxin produziert und in Bonfol – der damals einzig legalen Schweizer Chemiemüll-deponie – abgelagert. Dort ist mit einer Freisetzung von gefährlichen Dioxinen zu rechnen, wenn saniert wird, wie von der BCI geplant. Greenpeace fordert deshalb umfassende Sicherheitsstandards zur Totalsanierung der Deponie. © Greenpeace / Ex-Press / Heike Grasser

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Unique identifier: GP01STZ

Type: Image

Shoot date: 29/09/2005

Locations: Basel, Europe, East Europe, Alpine Countries, Switzerland

Size: 2457px × 2953px 1MB

Ranking: ★★★★★★ (B)

Containers

Shoot:

Toxics Campaign Press Conference Landfill Bonfol in Basel Switzerland

During a press conference Greenpeace presents the results of a research project: the chemical companies from Basel (BCI) have produced significant quantities of dioxin and dumped it in Bonfol; then the only legal Swiss chemical waste landfill. We can expect a release of hazardous dioxins when the landfill will be remediated, as planned by BCI. It appears that BCI has not learned a lot from the devastating dioxin accident in Seveso in terms of information politics. For example, BCI says dioxin plays no role in Bonfol. Greenpeace demands far-reaching measures; A new, cooperative and, above all, competent project management has to fundamentally revise and adapt the remediation project of Bonfol, taking the presence of dioxin into account.
De study that was done on behalf of Greenpeace refuted the allegations of the BCI: Four production lines were investigated and they found a ton of dioxins and dioxin-like waste, including dioxins toxicity equivalents (TEQs) (double the allowed amount) and highly toxic Seveso-dioxin. Dioxins are among the most toxic chemicals known to humanity, and thus are prohibited internationally. Because Bonfol was the only legal chemical landfill of BCI in the period 1961-76, it was assumed that the dioxin waste of the companies was stored in Bonfol.

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