Muan County Council Adopts Resolution Opposing Medical Waste Incineration Facility

"Threats to Residents' Health and Environmental Rights...
Calls for Complete Withdrawal of Installation Plans"

Jeong Eun-kyung, a member of the Muan County Council, is reading a resolution urging opposition to the installation of a medical waste incineration facility. Provided by Muan County Council

The Muan County Council in South Jeolla Province has officially expressed its opposition to the planned installation of a medical waste incineration facility within the county.

According to the county council on September 15, the "Resolution Urging Opposition to the Installation of a Medical Waste Incineration Facility," sponsored by Assemblywoman Jeong Eun-kyung, was unanimously adopted at the 2nd plenary session of the 303rd extraordinary meeting held on September 12. The resolution was prompted by growing resident opposition to the large-scale medical waste incineration facilities being pursued in Cheonggye-myeon and Samhyang-eup.

Assemblywoman Jeong pointed out, "The incineration facilities being promoted in Cheonggye-myeon and Samhyang-eup, with daily capacities of 57 tons and 36 tons respectively, completely disregard the actual amount of medical waste generated in Muan County. The annual processing capacity exceeding 34,000 tons would result in the concentration of high-risk medical waste from all over the country into Muan."

She further emphasized, "The incineration process could emit carcinogens such as dioxins and heavy metals, and odors and noise would severely threaten the health and environmental rights of nearby residents. In particular, since the planned sites are located in densely populated residential areas and near Mokpo National University, there are serious concerns about infringements on residents' living environments and students' right to learn."

Assemblywoman Jeong went on to criticize, "Pushing forward with large-scale environmentally hazardous facilities without gathering public opinion from county residents undermines the very essence of local autonomy. This is clearly a flawed administrative action that ignores residents' right to know and to participate."

Through this resolution, the county council officially demanded: ▲ a halt to the installation of medical waste incineration facilities that threaten the right to life and safety of Muan residents, ▲ withdrawal and full reconsideration of the "appropriate notification" for the project plan by the Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office, and ▲ legislation of the "principle of waste treatment at the place of origin" and mandatory collection of residents' opinions for incineration facilities with a capacity of less than 100 tons.

Chairman Lee Hosung stated, "We will never stand by and watch the installation of a medical waste incineration facility that threatens the quality of life of our residents. Together with our 100,000 residents, we will do everything in our power to stop it."

Meanwhile, the county council plans to deliver the adopted resolution to relevant agencies, including the Presidential Office, the National Assembly, the Ministry of Environment, and the Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office.