KIEV, Sept. 19 – This year's first batch of 20.894 tons of hexachlorobenzene was removed from the toxic waste storage in the town of Kalush, Ivano-Frankivsk region, the Environment Ministry reported.

The waste was sent to Poland by road on September 16, where it will be disposed of at a specialized facility.

"This year we plan to remove about 60% of hexachlorobenzene and by the end of next year we plan to completely clean the entire territory of Kalush district of this hazardous substance," the press service quoted Ukrainian Environment Minister Mykola Zlochevsky as saying.