The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) has launched an investigation into Elsin Transport & Logistics over alleged violations of waste disposal procedures relating to a consignment of palm kernel shells recently imported into the country. According to the EPA, seventeen 44-foot containers of palm kernel shells, infested with worms, arrived at the Freeport of Monrovia on September 18, 2025. The shipment, originally bound for Portugal as part of a larger cargo from Nigeria, was diverted to Liberia under the care of Essen Transport & Logistics for fumigation and disposal. Records show that prior to the consignment’s arrival, Elsin Transport & Logistics wrote the EPA on September 17, 2025, requesting clear guidance on disposal procedures.
The company asked for information on handling, storage, and approved disposal methods for palm kernel waste, stressing its willingness to comply with national regulations. The EPA responded promptly on September 22, acknowledging the request but clarifying that Essen Transport & Logistics lacked authorization and capacity to directly dispose of the waste. Instead, the agency instructed the company to engage a certified EPA-approved waste management provider. EPA’s letter also outlined the requirements for environmental assessment, laboratory testing, and compliance with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, to which Liberia is a party.
Upon arrival, the EPA directed that the containers remain under the custody of APM Terminals Liberia while random samples were collected. Laboratory tests confirmed that the palm kernel shells contained no hazardous levels of heavy metals, oils, or contaminants. The waste was therefore classified as non-hazardous, though visibly infested with worms due to decay. In light of these findings, the EPA authorized the release of the containers from the port, noting that continued storage posed risks of infestation to other goods. However, the agency stressed that disposal must follow approved protocols through certified waste handlers.
According to the EPA, palm kernel shells are commonly traded internationally as biomass fuel, organic fertilizer, or livestock feed components, but their safe use depends on proper processing and oversight. Despite these directives, the EPA through its boss said, fresh information emerged this week suggesting that Elsin Transport & Logistics may have already disposed of some of the palm kernel waste, both from the Freeport and a temporary storage site at the GSA compound without EPA involvement. This action, the EPA confirmed, runs contrary to written instructions and constitutes a breach of established environmental regulations. EPA inspectors, alongside customs and other enforcement agencies, escorted several of the containers to a designated holding area. But allegations of premature disposal have now triggered a formal investigation.
“The company was clearly told they are not authorized to undertake disposal themselves,” an EPA official stated during a press briefing. “There are certified waste management firms trained and licensed to handle this process. Any deviation undermines environmental safety and violates the law.” EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel Yarkpawolo emphasized that while the palm kernel shells were deemed non-hazardous, Liberia cannot afford to compromise on environmental safety. “We want to assure Liberians that under our watch, the country will not become a dumping ground for waste,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said. “Every consignment is evaluated on its own merit, and where hazardous risks are found, they are either rejected or returned. We will not compromise on public health.” The EPA cited past cases, including a rejected hazardous shipment in 2020, as evidence of Liberia’s strict enforcement of international standards.
The EPA says it will continue monitoring the consignment and ensure that disposal follows the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia. Administrative action could follow against Essen Transport & Logistics if the allegations of unauthorized disposal are confirmed. In the spirit of transparency, the EPA announced that it will publish the full laboratory results on its website for public review. Civil society, academic institutions, and the media are encouraged to independently verify the findings. “Our priority is to protect the environment and safeguard the dignity of our people,” the EPA said in a statement signed by Mrs. Danise Love Dennis-Dodoo, Head of Media and Corporate Communications. “This investigation is about ensuring that no shortcuts are taken and that the law is respected.”
Author: Zac T. Sherman
