Electronic waste exporter determined to defend charges

An Auckland man facing charges of attempting to export hazardous waste collected on eday doesn't believe he's done anything wrong and says he tried to co-operate with authorities.

Alex Hong is the director of a company that was to process electronic waste, including computer monitors, on eday last year.

The waste was to be exported to South Korea but in September last year the exports were suspended while the waste in 58 shipping containers was inspected by the Ministry of Economic Development (MED).

An investigation was launched after the ministry was tipped off that hazardous waste, including that collected on eday, was being mixed with reusable computer items and exported without proper permits.

Mr Hong and his company SMT Ltd face two charges each of attempting to export hazardous waste from New Zealand without a permit.

He is also charged with 10 counts of using a document to gain pecuniary advantage.

Those charges, laid by the MED on Tuesday, relate to documents allegedly provided by Mr Hong to the ministry that would have allowed used electronic goods to leave the country without a permit on the basis they would be reused rather than recycled.

Mr Hong's lawyer, Steve Bonnar, said yesterday it was extremely disappointing the charges had been laid.

"We expressed some time ago our willingness to speak further with them but they haven't taken us up."

Mr Bonnar said both Mr Hong and the company would vigorously defend the charges.

Mr Hong, who is also known as Steven Ansley, could be fined up to $10,000 on the hazardous waste charges and be jailed for up to seven years on the other charges.

When the investigation was initially launched Mr Hong told the Herald he believed some of the regulations were complicated, but was sure he'd done everything correctly.

He will appear in the Auckland District Court on March 15.