POPs IN AFRICA HAZARDOUS WASTE TRADE 1980 - 2000 ... - Arte

U.S.W.C.Inc.”. 187
(Note: maybe this scheme is another variation of the following:
“Roger Cottenie”.)
Scheme: Roger Cottenie
Date: 1989
Type of Waste: Solid
Source: U.S. and Western Europe
Exporter: Roger Cottenie (Mechelen, Belgium)
Pretext/Fate: Waste to Energy
Status: Rejected
A consortium consisting of three European firms plans to burn
solid wastes from the U.S. and from Western Europe in an
energy-generating waste incinerator in Sierra Leone. The project
was planned and coordinated by Roger Cottenie of Mechelen,
Belgium, who introduced the scheme during a press-conference
in Freetown.
France is to deliver the incinerator-related technology while
Austria supplies the technology to build the disposal site and
produce methane gas. The participants in the scheme allegedly
plan to fill up the disposal site with waste for two to three years,
until enough foreign currency is earned to build the waste
incinerator.
In a letter to the New African monthly, Cottenie defended his
project as using only garbage and “no toxic wastes,” and said it
would help the country to solve its energy problems. 188
Greenpeace visited Sierra Leone in early May 1989 and was
assured by the Minister of Development, Dr. Sheka Kanu, that
the deal was off. An official government statement dated
February 9, 1989, said that “The government shall not entertain
any proposal for importing foreign or any other waste from
anywhere into the country.” 189
After the failure of this project Cottenie tried the same scheme in
Georgia, a former Soviet Republic bordering to the Black Sea in
1992. Greenpeace disclosed the project and it was stopped by the
authorities. In 1994 Cottenie’s company “Sports & Imports”
tried again in India and was opposed by local groups. As of
November 1997 Greenpeace has no knowledge re the fate of this
project.
Obsolete Pesticides: In Sierra Leone there were altogether 7 tonnes of obsolete
pesticides stored in 5 different locations.
Companies identified are: ASE, Bayer, Cabe, Detia, Hodogaya,
187 Relevant documents on file with Greenpeace Germany
188New African, May 1990.
189Greenpeace International, Conversation with Dr. Sheka Kanu; Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Press Release, February 9, 1989.
97