Poland rejects toxic waste shipped from El Salvador for destruction

Environment officials say Poland has decided to refuse a shipment of toxic waste from El Salvador for destruction because of the local community's concerns.

The 69 tons of liquid and solid waste from a pesticide plant in El Salvador is en route by sea, where it was to be burned in SARP Industries' state-of-the-art incineration plant in the southern town of Dabrowa Gornicza.

Environment Minister Maciej Grabowski said on the ministry website Monday that after talks at the ministry the plant director decided against accepting the waste.

Grabowski pointed to protests by local residents.

In El Salvador, the waste had been linked to the high incidence of kidney disease in the area.

It was not immediately clear whether the waste would be sent back to Salvador or sent elsewhere.