Gwangju City and Namgu District to Expedite Administrative Procedures for 'SRF Odor' Issue

Joint Meeting with Local Residents
Formation of Task Force and Continuous Odor Monitoring

Gwangju Mayor Kang Kijeong attended a meeting held on the 14th in the conference room of the Combustible Waste Fuel Production Facility (SRF Manufacturing Facility) to discuss countermeasures with local residents, Namgu District Mayor Kim Byungnae, and officials from Cheongjeongbitgoeul. Photo by Gwangju City

On August 14, Gwangju City, Namgu District Office, and local residents held a meeting to discuss solutions to the odor problem at the Combustible Waste Fuel Facility (SRF Manufacturing Facility) located within the Yanggwadong sanitary landfill. The meeting was attended by Mayor Kang Kijeong, Namgu District Mayor Kim Byungnae, the head of Cheongjeongbitgoeul (the operator of the SRF Manufacturing Facility), and about 200 residents from the Hyocheon district.

This meeting was convened as a response to a surge in resident complaints since June regarding severe odors in the vicinity of the SRF Manufacturing Facility. The session aimed to find solutions after odor collection results showed emissions exceeding the permissible limits.

Previously, Namgu District had filed a complaint against Cheongjeongbitgoeul and imposed administrative measures (recommendation for improvement) due to the facility exceeding the permissible odor emission limits. Gwangju City also requested that Cheongjeongbitgoeul establish countermeasures and provide facility operation data.

At the meeting, residents demanded the following: ▲ suspension of SRF operations ▲ formation of a joint public-private task force (TF) ▲ continuous odor monitoring ▲ changes to the route and operating hours of garbage transport vehicles in the Hyocheon district ▲ disclosure of the consignment contract and operational guidelines between Gwangju City and Cheongjeongbitgoeul, and their implementation.

In response, the city and Namgu District pledged to: ▲ promptly proceed with legal and administrative procedures related to the odor issue ▲ discuss solutions to the SRF facility odor problem through the formation of a joint public-private task force (TF) involving Gwangju City, local districts, residents, and experts ▲ consider designating the area as an odor management zone ▲ transparently disclose information such as odor analysis data and the SRF agreement, as requested by residents.

The city explained that, as the authority to take administrative action against Cheongjeongbitgoeul (the SRF facility operator) lies with Namgu District, it will cooperate with the district office to resolve the issue. Plans include discussing a temporary suspension of SRF facility operations, facility repairs, professional consulting for odor improvement, and detailed improvement measures.

The SRF facility is a waste recycling facility, and if it exceeds the permissible odor emission limits, business suspension is possible under the Waste Management Act. Gwangju City and Namgu District plan to monitor compliance by collecting odor samples and conducting complex odor analyses.

Mayor Kang Kijeong urged Cheongjeongbitgoeul, the operator of the SRF facility, to "prepare company-led measures to address the odor issue before the authorities issue a suspension order or take other actions according to administrative procedures."

During the meeting, Mayor Kang stated, "I understand the pain of the residents who have suffered from the odor more than a hundred times over. Gwangju City and Namgu District will take all possible administrative actions against Cheongjeongbitgoeul. In addition, we will alleviate residents' suffering by forming a joint public-private task force (TF) and disclosing information as requested by the community."