Firm admits illegal dumping of waste
HCM CITY — HCM City-based Vietstar Joint Stock Company has admitted illegally dumping more than 5,000 tonnes of waste at its treatment plant in Cu Chi District's Thai My Commune. The company would take full responsibility for the dumping, its general director, Seah Keoh Beng, reportedly told the municipal environmental police.
Those employees who had breached Natural Resources and Environment Department waste-treatment regulations would also be punished, he said.
Police from the Ministry of Public Security's Southern Environment Police Bureau found untreated waste dumped over 7,000sq.m of the plant's area under an 80cm layer of sand while inspecting the waste-treatment plant last Friday.
They warned the company that the waste had created a stench that had affected nearby residents two months ago.
The waste was found to contain solid items such as nylon bags, which aren't biodegradable, said Cu Nam Tien, deputy head of the bureau's office No 2.
"The company illegally dumped solid waste instead of delivering it to be recycled for the production of organic fertiliser," he said.
Police took samples of the waste for testing and the company might face prosecution if test results reveal the waste contains harmful substances that have contaminated land and underground water sources, he added.
The company was fined VND14 million (US$714) for its breach of the waste regulations in June.
Under current regulations, polluters will be fined between VND100,000-500 million ($5.2-25,500), depending on the level of infringement. — VNS