First truck with PCB waste left Strážske

The area of the former Chemko Strážske 28. On June 2025, the first truck loaded with hazardous waste containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) left the site. Accompanied by a police escort, he headed to a specialised incinerator in Vienna, where the toxic material will be ecologically disposed of.

This is the beginning of the first phase of the disposal of more than 150 tonnes of PCB substances, which have been temporarily stored in 17 containers in the premises of the building called the. Tricky. The transport will take place at approximately weekly intervals over the next three months.

The complex logistics of the whole operation is provided by DETOX s.r.o., a member of the KOSIT group, which won the public tender announced by the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic.

“We have thoroughly sorted all the waste by type and level of contamination. In the first batch, we take away bulk materials with maximum PCB content. The combustion will take place at a temperature of at least 1 100 °C,” said Daniel Studený, managing director of the company.

Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba described the start of the collection as a historic milestone. “With this step, Slovakia is finally beginning to come to terms with the ecological legacy of the past. I believe that major decisions will also be taken in this area on building domestic capacity for hazardous waste disposal,” he added.

The Ministry of the Interior, in cooperation with the police, ensures security measures during transit across the entire territory of the Slovak Republic.

The Mayor of Strážske Patrik Magdoško welcomed the beginning of the physical removal of hazardous substances from the territory of the town:

“As someone who has been involved in this issue for many years, I am genuinely pleased that the first truck is finally leaving our territory. We will also demand screening of residents for the presence of PCBs in their bodies and possible compensation for affected communities.”

Short video reportage, Daniel Studený, managing director of DETOX s. r. o.