Trust orders report asbags labelled ‘medicalwaste’ found on road

THE Western Trust has asked an external contractor to launch an investigation after bags - one of which was labelled ‘medical waste, not for incineration’ - were found strewn over a picturesque country road in Londonderry.
A bag labelled 'medical waste - do not incinerate' that was discovered strewn along the Fincairn Road on Friday (May 24).A bag labelled 'medical waste - do not incinerate' that was discovered strewn along the Fincairn Road on Friday (May 24).
A bag labelled 'medical waste - do not incinerate' that was discovered strewn along the Fincairn Road on Friday (May 24).

On Friday (May 24) several bags of foul-smelling rubbish were discovered on the Fincairn Road in Drumahoe.

A local resident - who asked not to be named - told the Sentinel he was walking his dog at approximately 4pm on Friday, when he came across the noxious waste.

He said he believed they may have fallen off the back of a skip lorry of which he says there are many that regularly use the route.

After finding the waste the man contacted Altnagelvin and the waste was gone by the time he had returned to the scene at approximately 10am on Saturday (May 25).

A spokesperson for the Western Trust told the Sentinel it took the matter very seriously and had asked the contractor responsible to file a full report into the incident.

The Trust became aware that a small amount of bagged waste had been found on the Fincairn Road on Friday (May 24) after a member of the public contacted the Trust.

“The external contractor who was managing the collection, transport and removal of this waste was contacted and the Trust recovered the waste immediately,” the spokesperson said.

Although one of the bags was labelled ‘medical waste’ the spokesperson said this was not the case.

“It is important to note that none of the waste found was ‘medical or hospital’ waste but was classified as normal waste, which would include such items as paper towels, paper cups, kitchen rolls and handtowels.

“The Trust takes this matter extremely serious and expects all external contractors who provide waste collection and disposal services to fully comply with their exacting high contract standards.

“The Trust has contacted the external contractor involved and has requested the investigation of this occurrence and a full report to the Trust on all remedial action, which will be taken to prevent reoccurrence,” the spokesperson said.

The resident who discovered the waste said he hoped any companies transporting waste along the route would ensure skips and other loads were securely tied down.