Gyeonggi-do Launches Intensive Investigation of 240 Large Waste-Emitting Business Sites

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is launching an investigation into 240 business sites within the province that discharge large amounts of waste.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police announced on the 25th that from the 30th of this month until the 10th of next month, they will conduct a focused investigation into illegal activities at business sites within the province that discharge large amounts of waste.

The investigation targets 240 sites within the province that discharge more than 1,000 tons of waste annually, sites with environmental pollution complaints, and sites suspected of improper waste disposal.

The main investigation points include ▲violations of waste treatment standards such as discharging, mixing, and storing waste ▲violations of compliance requirements by business waste dischargers ▲entrusting business waste to unauthorized disposal operators ▲failing to record or falsely recording matters related to waste transfer and receipt, among others.

Entrusting business waste to unauthorized disposal operators is punishable by imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 30 million KRW, while violations of waste treatment standards, non-compliance by business waste dischargers, or failure to record matters related to waste transfer and receipt are punishable by imprisonment of up to 2 years or a fine of up to 20 million KRW.

The Special Judicial Police of the province declared this year as the inaugural year for eradicating illegal waste. In March, they investigated companies illegally discharging non-hazardous sludge and held a meeting on the 15th of the same month to eradicate illegal waste. In April, they cracked down on 480 waste disposal and recycling companies, uncovering 71 illegal activities.

Yoon Tae-wan, head of the province's Special Judicial Police, emphasized, "As illegal waste disposal has been rampant recently, we will thoroughly investigate violations of the Waste Management Act from the discharge stage to the final disposal stage and hold those responsible accountable."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.