Clear The Air News Blog Rotating Header Image

East Arm quarantine incinerator shut down

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-06/east-arm-quarantine-incinerator-shut-down/4356552?section=nt

East Arm quarantine incinerator shut down

The Northern Territory Government has shut down its quarantine incineration facility at East Arm Wharf in Darwin because of pollution concerns.

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) says there has been an ongoing problem with the incinerator for the past six years.

Transport Minister Adam Giles says the Government decided to shut the facility because it fails to meet new environmental standards.

The incinerator was set up in 2006 to treat waste from commercial shipping and international flights.

EPA chairman Dr Bill Freeland says the incinerator was found to be emitting dioxins into the surrounding soil.

He says alternative arrangements for the waste are being established.

“There will be waste coming in every day and currently it is being stored, and arrangements are being put in place … to actually get that all sealed up and trucked to a proper facility to South Australia,” he said.

Mr Giles says the Territory receives about one shipping container of bio-hazard waste from international aircraft and ships every day.

“I want to make sure that people see Darwin Port as a clean port,” he said.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *