German officials accept responsibility for waste dump in Libceves

German officials have accepted responsibility for an illegal waste dump in Libceves in North Bohemia. Following talks in Saxony on Thursday, the local authorities said they were prepared to pay for its removal. The issue of illegally imported waste from Germany has strained Czech-German relations in recent months and been addressed at the highest level. Since the beginning of the year, an estimated 20 thousand tonnes of German waste has been dumped in the Czech border areas. The Czech police have now charged six people, including a German citizen, over the illegal imports. If convicted they may be sent to five years in prison.

Meanwhile the Czech Environment Inspection Office has ordered the Bau 24 company to pay a fine of 10 million crowns (416,000 dollars) for illegally dumping rubbish in Libceves. The company's representative has appealed against the fine.