The huge waste dump in Tuplice was created in 2013 on the site of a historic, dilapidated brickyard, which was bought by a private investor who obtained permission from the authorities to store waste there. He declared that the waste would be processed, but ended up storing and abandoning it, reports Polsat's "Interwencja".

Over the years, the waste from the German zinc smelter has formed a huge heap weighing approximately 40,000 tonnes. It is located just 500 m from the municipal office, right next to the railway station and between currently inhabited houses.

"This comes from a zinc smelter, and it is known zinc is poisonous waste, heavy metals," says Zbigniew Nowicki, a resident of Tuplice and a retired border guard. "There are two ponds next to the landfill, the fish have started swimming upside down," he points out.

It is not only the animals that suffer, but also the families living in nearby houses. A retired customs officer, Henryk Warchał, lives with his wife just 50 m from the waste dump site. Together with his neighbour Zbigniew, he started a private investigation.

"The permit was issued for waste unrelated to zinc or cadmium. And the entire Periodic Table of Elements had arrived. The authorities ordered it should be stored on concrete, in silos and covered. Instead, there is bare earth, and no silos or roofing," explains Warchał.

"We often get sick, we scratch our throats. There is no fever, but our throats hurt. It didn't hurt before," adds his wife, Bogumiła Warchał.

Residents of Tuplice fear for their health. They point out that the wind is spreading the waste over the surrounding gardens where they grow vegetables. "I have a vegetable garden, we grow and eat them. But is it safe?" wonders Ms Bogumiła.

Furthermore, according to residents, the landfill area is unsecured and there are many dangerous spots, such as sewers without manholes. This poses a danger to children playing near the dump.

The concerns of the people of Tuplice led to the Dresden court dealing with the waste. It ordered it to be taken back to Germany, as it should never have entered Poland. Unfortunately, the decision has been appealed. To make matters worse, the Tuplice authorities do not feel responsible.

"We absolutely will not export it, because the municipality does not feel responsible. Secondly, we cannot afford it. I believe that the government will do everything to get it back from where it came from. And at the expense of the people who brought it here," says Katarzyna Kromp, the wójt (highest administrative officer of a Polish rural gmina) of Tuplice.

Source: Polsat "Interwencja"