Chungnam Uncovers More Illegal Influx of Metropolitan Waste... Judicial Action Against Cheonan and Asan Companies

Unauthorized Intake and Storage Standard Violations Confirmed
"Fundamental Blockade of Influx, Continued Strong Response"

In a rigorous inspection aimed at blocking the influx of municipal solid waste from the Seoul metropolitan area into South Chungcheong Province, two additional recycling companies have been found in violation of regulations.

The provincial government of South Chungcheong announced that it has confirmed unauthorized intake and violations of storage standards, and plans to pursue both judicial and administrative actions.

On January 20, the province reported that it had uncovered violations of the Waste Control Act during a joint inspection targeting recycling companies in Cheonan and Asan that have service contracts for handling municipal waste from the metropolitan area.

This inspection was conducted in response to concerns that, since the beginning of this year, the complete ban on direct landfilling of metropolitan municipal waste has led to waste with no disposal route being diverted into South Chungcheong Province.

The province formed a joint inspection team with city and county officials and conducted on-site inspections of companies in Cheonan and Asan on January 19, following earlier inspections in Gongju and Seosan on January 6.

As a result, it was confirmed that a recycling company in Cheonan had brought in municipal and bulky waste generated in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, between January 2 and January 17.

This company was found to have brought in waste without the required permit for the collection and transportation of municipal waste, and is suspected of violating Article 25, Paragraph 3 of the Waste Control Act. If the violation is ultimately confirmed, the company may face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won.

A company in Asan had signed a contract with Dobong District in Seoul for the consignment processing of waste synthetic resins, but it was confirmed that no municipal waste has actually been brought in or processed to date.

However, the company’s waste storage facilities were found to be damaged and left unattended, leading the province to determine that it had violated the storage standards set forth in Article 13, Paragraph 1 of the Waste Control Act.

The province has taken measures to ensure that Cheonan and Asan city authorities pursue judicial action and administrative penalties against the two companies.

Do Jungwon, Director of the Provincial Environmental Management Division, stated, "As local governments in the metropolitan area continue to sign service contracts with recycling companies for municipal waste disposal, the routes for incoming waste are becoming increasingly diverse. We will continue to take strong measures to fundamentally block attempts to bring metropolitan waste into the province."

Previously, two recycling companies in Gongju and Seosan that were found in violation on January 6 have since canceled their municipal waste consignment contracts with Geumcheon District in Seoul and have stopped accepting metropolitan waste. These companies have been preliminarily notified of a one-month business suspension.

Going forward, the province plans to continue ongoing monitoring of private incineration plants and comprehensive recycling companies in the province that have signed or are in the process of signing contracts with metropolitan municipalities. The province will immediately conduct on-site inspections and respond firmly if illegal intake is identified.

In addition, the province will work with environmental organizations to address metropolitan waste issues and seek joint response measures with other local governments and related agencies in the Chungcheong region regarding the principle of "processing municipal waste at the place of generation."