Shutdown at Mexico toxic waste plant after Guardian investigation revealed pollution in nearby homes
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Mexican officials ordered furnaces to shut down after report on very high levels of pollutants in surrounding neighborhood. Authorities ordered the shutdown of two furnaces at a Mexican recycling plant that processes hazardous waste exported from the US, after an investigation by the Guardian and Quinto Elemento Lab, which revealed heavy metals contamination in nearby homes and schools.
A team from the environmental agency of the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon visited the plant in a heavily populated part of the Monterrey metropolitan area on Thursday. Officials said that during the visit they found evidence of “deficiencies in the emission control systems” and dust from the plant in soil, said the agency in a press release. “Therefore, as a precautionary measure, the suspension of the furnaces was ordered … This measure will remain in effect until the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa) assumes jurisdiction over the case.”.
Environmental regulators from Profepa had already arrived at the plant on Friday. A press officer for the agency said the federal government has the ultimate authority over facilities such as this that handle hazardous waste. The actions follow an investigation released on Tuesday by the Guardian and Quinto Elemento Lab, a non-profit reporting group, which traced how US steel companies ship contaminated dust left over from recycling scrap metal to the Zinc Nacional plant.
