Mexico's Mysterious White Bags: Unearthed Environmental Puzzle:

What was initially a puzzle about white bags scattered across Mexico near the city of Monterrey has evolved into a captivating story of environmental significance. Mexican authorities had ordered the "urgent" removal of these acres-wide sprawl of bags, believed to contain hazardous materials.

Identifying the Bags:

The bags were first identified by investigations conducted by Guardian and Quinto Element Lab in January, found around a factory that apparently recycles toxic waste from the US. Mexican authorities subsequently ordered the cleanup of an estimated 30,000 tons of stored material bearing "hazardous characteristics".

The Cross-Border Waste Issue:

The issue of the toxic waste import from the US, presumably the origin of the white bags, has garnered significant attention in Mexico and Canada recently. The question arises - why should these countries accommodate the US's waste, especially amidst brewing trade tensions?

Zinc Nacional and the US Toxic Waste:

The Monterrey-based factory is owned by Zinc Nacional, one of Mexico’s largest importers of US toxic waste. The factory recycles hazardous dust from the US steel industry and resells it as zinc oxide — used in products such as rubber and fertilizer. In recent times, eyes have turned to Zinc Nacional’s practices due to environmental concerns.

Looking Forward:

The Mexican environmental enforcement agency plans to further inspect these sites, potentially requiring soil sampling and subsequent remediation. As the United States reportedly exports around 760,000 tons a year of hazardous waste to Mexico, the recent findings raise important questions about the safety and transparency of such practices.

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