Gyeonggi Province Special Investigations Unit Launches Intensive Investigation into Waste Processing Operators Starting April 21...Pre-emptively Blocking Illegal Dumping and Abandonment

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Noh-hoon] The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit will conduct intensive investigations into illegal activities by waste disposal and recycling operators from April 21 through May 7.

The investigation targets approximately 480 waste processing facilities (disposal and recycling businesses), including businesses with large storage volumes and facilities where environmental pollution complaints have been filed.

The main investigation focuses include ▲illegal dumping, landfilling, and incineration ▲unlicensed waste processing operations ▲storing waste in locations other than designated storage areas in violation of treatment standards ▲outsourcing to unlicensed operators ▲exceeding licensed capacity or storage duration ▲failure to comply with waste processing business requirements ▲failing to enter waste handover and receipt information into the 'Allbaro System,' among others.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit plans to pursue criminal prosecution of violating businesses and administrative notification to relevant authorities. In cases where the scale of illegal activity is significant, the unit will conduct compulsory investigations including asset seizures and searches, with plans to conduct tracking investigations throughout all processes from illegal waste disposal to processing.

The province explained that this investigation is being pursued to pre-emptively block potential illegal activities in the waste treatment process, given the situation where waste processing costs have increased due to a significant decrease in waste exports to China (from 220,000 tons in 2017 to 15,000 tons in 2020) and increased use of disposable items due to COVID-19.

Previously, on March 15, the province held an "Consultative Meeting for Eliminating Illegal Waste" at the Gyeonggi Province Government Situation Room, attended by Governor Lee Jae-myung, Gwak Sang-wook (Chairman of the Gyeonggi Province Mayors and Governors Association), Song Ok-joo (Chair of the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee), Kim Pan-soo (Chair of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly's Safety and Administration Committee), private experts, and environmental activists. This investigation represents a follow-up measure to that meeting.

In Chikwon, Chief of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit, stated, "Compliance with the law in the waste treatment process must come first to eliminate illegal dumping and abandonment," and added, "We plan to take strong measures against violating businesses in coordination with relevant departments and municipal and county offices."

Meanwhile, according to the Waste Management Act, illegal dumping, landfilling, or incineration of waste can result in imprisonment of up to seven years or fines of up to 70 million won. Unlicensed waste processing operations can result in imprisonment of up to five years or fines of up to 50 million won. Outsourcing treatment to unlicensed operators can result in imprisonment of up to three years or fines of up to 30 million won. Failing to enter waste handover and receipt information into the 'Allbaro System' can result in imprisonment of up to two years or fines of up to 20 million won.