Paju City Intensifies Campaign Against Illegal Landfilling... Operates "Illegal Landfilling Monitors"

Strengthening Measures in Papyeong-myeon, Jeokseong-myeon, Tanhyeon-myeon, and Jangdan-myeon
Ongoing Complaints of Damage and Inconvenience from Citizens

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province will conduct intensive crackdowns to eradicate illegal landfilling in preparation for the upcoming landfilling season (from November to the end of April the following year). To this end, the city plans to strengthen on-site responses by operating a team of six "Illegal Landfilling Monitors" focused on areas where illegal landfilling frequently occurs, such as Papyeong-myeon, Jeokseong-myeon, Tanhyeon-myeon, and Jangdan-myeon.

Paju City will conduct intensive crackdowns to eradicate illegal landfilling in preparation for the upcoming landfilling season (November to the end of April the following year). Photo by Paju City

When violations are detected, the monitoring team will be dispatched to the site to immediately order a halt to construction. After issuing first and second restoration orders, if these are not complied with, the city will take strong administrative actions, including filing criminal complaints with judicial authorities and registering the site as an accident location, in order to eradicate illegal landfilling.

Illegal landfilling typically occurs when some landfilling operators approach farmers by offering low-cost or free landfilling services. During this process, indiscriminate import and burial of soil beyond the scope of farmland improvement takes place. This leads to the use of soil unsuitable for crop cultivation (such as recycled soil and recycled aggregates), resulting in soil contamination, poor drainage in nearby farmland, and soil runoff, all of which cause serious damage.

With the amended Farmland Act set to take effect on January 3, 2025, anyone wishing to improve farmland must obtain a development activity permit (for farmland landfilling) before commencing landfilling. When reporting a fugitive dust-generating business, they must also submit documentation to Paju City Hall proving that the soil is suitable for farmland. This documentation must be issued by a certified soil analysis institution and must include information such as hydrogen ion concentration (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), sand content, and heavy metal content.

Additionally, to prevent illegal landfilling, the city plans to produce and distribute informational materials outlining the overall procedures and precautions for legal farmland landfilling to towns and villages. This aims to promote a sound landfilling culture among landfilling companies and landowners, as well as to raise awareness and strengthen publicity efforts.

Lim Sewoong, Head of the Permits Division, stated, "In order to completely block the ongoing illegal landfilling, we will review legal matters and work in collaboration with relevant departments to actively enforce strong administrative actions and crackdowns in the event of violations. We ask for the active cooperation of landfilling companies and farmers to use soil suitable for crop cultivation according to plans and purposes, so that farmland is protected and the agricultural environment is improved."

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