DENR suspends medical wastes transport permits

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has suspended the transporter permits of Chevalier Enviro Services Inc. and the AEC Hauling Services for allegedly transporting and attempting to dump untreated medical wastes at a landfill in Capas, Tarlac in violation of Republic Act 6969 also known as the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990.

DENR Secretary Ramon Paje also ordered a halt on the processing of CESI’s application for renewal of its treatment, storage and disposal registration pending resolution of the case filed against the company.

In the suspension orders, Juan Miguel Cuna, Environment Management Bureau director, ordered CESI and AEC to cease and desist from transporting and accepting healthcare wastes for treatment at their facilities.

Cuna cited in the suspension orders the investigation report submitted by its regional office in Pampanga which found that the hospital wastes loaded in the two trucks were “unsafe to transport due to unsanitary condition such as foul odor and drenching of blood residue,” and without any appropriate hazard warning labels or covering. –James Konstantin Galvez, Manila Times