‘Firm Opposition to Incinerator Expansion’ … Residents of Samsung-dong, Yangsan City, Urge Withdrawal of NC Yangsan Incinerator Modernization Project

The NC Yangsan Incineration Plant Expansion Opposition Citizens' Joint Emergency Countermeasures Committee held a press conference to express their firm opposition to the incineration plant expansion.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] The Citizens' Joint Emergency Countermeasures Committee Against the Expansion of the NC Yangsan Incineration Plant held a press conference at Yangsan City Hall on the 17th, expressing their firm opposition to the 'incineration plant expansion.'

NC Yangsan is currently promoting the modernization and expansion of the incineration plant located in Sanmak Industrial Complex, Yangsan-si, Gyeongnam, increasing the daily processing capacity from the existing 60 tons to 200 tons, but the plan was halted due to residents' opposition.

The committee stated, "As the city administration changed, NC Yangsan is meeting residents again to re-push the incineration plant expansion," adding, "Residents have suffered from complex odors and fine dust for over 20 years, and such actions deceive the residents and mock the lives of local people."

They continued, "NC should modernize only the existing 60-ton daily incinerator to minimize resident damage," and demanded, "Yangsan City should take seriously the situation where our growing children and residents are suffering from odors and strongly convey the residents' opposition to the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office."

Regarding the recent controversy over the former committee chairman's monetary demands, the committee said, "While it is true that an unfortunate incident occurred, NC is blaming only the countermeasure committee members morally without mentioning the illegal acts proposed by NC to appease the residents."

They added, "The individual in question believes personal issues should be handled first and is not participating in the committee," and stated, "The fact of the transaction is that no cash was exchanged, and the written pledge has not been confirmed."

In response to reporters' questions about residents reversing their stance from support to opposition, the committee explained, "Residents did not know at the time of the 2020 agreement," and "Because there may be people like us who are unaware, we intend to promote public discussion."

Regarding the question of whether modernization could eliminate odors, they said, "Even if the latest technology stores waste underground to block odors, dust cannot be prevented after incineration."

They added, "Whenever odor complaints were filed, the odor measuring devices showed no abnormalities, so no measures were taken, and now residents are being divided," and concluded, "These actions have built current distrust, and our opposition is a matter of trust."