Automatically translated from Basque, translation may contain errors. More information here. Elhuyarren itzultzaile automatikoaren logoa

Those responsible for the Gipuzkoa incinerator acknowledge that Arkaitzerreka was dumped ammonia.

  • The GHK has opened a dossier to the company Ekondakin, which manages the Zubieta incineration plant, after reporting that they issued ammonia to neighbouring Arkaitzerreka. As a result, hundreds of fish were killed. Previously, the Environment Deputy, José Ignacio Asensio, said that "it was impossible" for contamination to have left the incinerator.

15 May 2020 - 07:04

On 7 May, a tanker poured ammonia into Arkaitzerreka, together with the Zubieta incinerator, according to the company managing it, Ekondakin, composed of Urbaser, Meridiam, Altuna and Uria, Moyua and LKS. The Waste Consortium of Gipuzkoa (GHK) explained in a statement that it has opened a dossier of sanctions against the company. This has been communicated to the Council of Gipuzkoa, the Basque Government and the Basque Water Agency.

Last weekend several witnesses warned of the presence of dead fish in the river and assured that contamination could come from the incinerator. However, the Environment Deputy of Gipuzkoa, José Ignacio Asensio, denied that the incinerator has "a closed water management system".

The URA agency was responsible for investigating the spillage, which was subjected to a series of samples for this purpose. It is precisely Asensio, along with other PNV and PSE positions, who is the administrator of this public agency and the Anti-Incineration Movement has denounced that this is an organization "controlled from the short rope by the authorities".

The City Council of Usurbil also took samples on its own of the dead fish and confirmed that a very high amount of ammonia has been found in Arkaitzerreka: "In the streams of the area the concentration is usually 1 mg/l of ammonia, but on Sunday 62 mg/l of ammonia were measured," explains Noaua.

We are not mistaken, Mr Asensio: The contamination of Arkaitzerreka has been caused by the incineration plant. And now what? What corrective measures will you take not to repeat? What control mechanisms exist? Who will protect us? We need answers: transparency," said the mayor of Usurbil, Agurtzane Solaberrieta.

According to GHK, in the infrastructures that make up the Gipuzkoa Environmental Centre (incinerator, TMB plant...) the closed circuit has worked "correctly". The landfill has occurred inside the plant, but also outside, with the same negative result.


You are interested in the channel: Kutsadura
"Petronor uses the word transformation, but we only see job destruction"
Petronor workers have enjoyed a day of free struggle this Thursday. Convened by the Works Council, they have held a strike and have concentrated on the BEC of Barakaldo, where the company held its annual meeting. They have denounced that, despite receiving public money, the only... [+]

The UN begins the final phase of negotiations to limit plastic pollution
The summit, which runs through the city of Busan in South Korea, will last from 25 November to 1 December. The oil-producing countries and their lobbies are putting obstacles, as they do not want to limit production.

2024-11-26 | Leire Ibar
The company Oxinorte de Barakaldo is fined for noise pollution
The City Hall of Barakaldo has demanded the Biscay company to pay a fine of EUR 11,800 and to close it for three months at night. Since the end of August, it emits a continuous, unpleasant and unbearable whistle that is heard throughout the environment.

2024-11-18 | Estitxu Eizagirre
In the CAV there are 1,557 landfills and if unused landfills are not sealed, water will continue to be contaminated.
Under the law, all unused landfills should be closed and sealed since 2008. Ekologistak Martxan appeared in the Basque Parliament to demand compliance with the law: on 12 November he participated in the Committee on Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability (see video... [+]

The Silicosis Epidemic: Cases Multiply by Artificial Stone for Cooking
Cases of lung cancer and diseases caused by silica dust have not stopped in recent years. They have jumped alarms in Australia, England or the Spanish State, and they have begun to take steps to ban the manufacture of quartz kitchen tables with crystal silica.

2024-10-31 | Leire Ibar
Research for the first time on how Korrika’s carbon emission can be reduced
Climate expert Lander Crespo has conducted a study to learn about the environmental impact and reduce emissions for future editions. Transport was the source of most of the discharges in the last edition of Korrika.

2024-10-29 | Leire Ibar
In ten years, the accumulation of electronic waste can multiply by a thousand.
Artificial intelligence can generate up to five million tons of electronic waste by 2030, according to a report published by the journal Nature Computational Science. Researchers stress the need to implement a circular economy strategy.

Astrabudua will remember Josu Murueta and Antón Fernández on the 55th anniversary of his assassination
The event will recall the tragic events of 1969 and will also pay tribute to the defenders of historical memory.

Thousands of studies highlight the need to solve the problem of microplastics
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the first use of the word “microplastic”, a group of researchers have reviewed what they have learned during these years in a study published in the journal Science. And they've come to clear conclusions: they're very widespread in... [+]

Call on the Spanish Government to set up "once and for all" the fund for asbestos victims
It has been two years since the law of fund creation was passed in the Spanish state, but the government of Pedro Sánchez has not yet developed the regulations and has no budget to endow the fund. In the Members' Congress, all the political groups have unanimously asked him to... [+]

2024-09-20 | Gedar
The company Glefaran de Balmaseda constantly exceeds the pollution limits established
Between 2016 and 2023, Glefaran used Pastguren’s former paper mill as an incinerator to produce electricity. Over these seven years, the emission limits for ash particles were skipped and "endangered human health and the environment". Several officials of the Basque Government... [+]

The Low Emissions Zone begins in Bilbao, among the critics of ecologists
The City of Bilbao wants to reduce the number of cars in the city centre so that air pollution decreases. To this end, it has taken the same step that is being taken in several cities: to ban access to the centre for the most polluting vehicles. Environmental groups have... [+]

Arkaitzerreka: GuraSOS denounces that it has been contaminated and GHK says it is a natural phenomenon
Last Friday a citizen detected that the water was not clean, but it is not known since when it is. As ARGIA has been aware, the members of the URA agency have approached Arkaitzerreka to participate in the initiative. Discharges and pollution of the incinerator have long been... [+]

Eguneraketa berriak daude