Labour has voiced strong criticism over the disposal of half a billion pieces of unused Covid protective equipment in China, describing it as “eye-watering waste.”
The UK government confirmed that it held around 589 million surplus items of personal protective equipment (PPE) in China as of September of the previous year, most of which were incinerated by March in an attempt to reduce storage costs.
This raised alarms about the environmental consequences of such waste management practices and added weight to the party’s critique.
Even as of March of the current year, approximately 12 million pieces remained unburned in storage facilities in China, awaiting incineration to expedite the process and cut down on costly storage expenses.
Labour’s Response and Call for Change:
Nevertheless, the government’s past actions have raised questions about its approach to waste management and financial responsibility.
