A view of Đa Phước Solid Waste Treatment Complex in Bình Chánh District, HCM City. — Photo zing.vn

HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Natural Resources and Environment last Friday checked foul-smelling at areas around the Đa Phước Solid Waste Treatment Complex in Bình Chánh District, following the requirement of the city chairman of HCM City People’s Committee Nguyễn Thanh Phong.

In recent days, residents in districts 7, 8 and Bình Chánh have complained about the smell.

The chairman has ordered the city’s management board for waste treatment complexes to arrange its staff to conduct surveillance around the clock at the complex.

The surveillance will last until September. It will evaluate the level of pollution and make an initial assessment of the kind of waste causing the smell.

The board will also set up a hotline for complaints about the smell to have timely solutions.

Moreover, the department’s inspection team will work with companies such as Sài Gòn Xanh Biological Technology Co Ltd and Hòa Bình Urban Company. It will assess the amount of time needed to receive waste and the necessary procedures for mud and water waste treatment. Surveillance of environment in the complex will also be done.

It will report to the committee after completing the work.

The committee also has advanced the board more than VNĐ10 billion (US$444,444) for early removal of seven households near the complex that are affected.

It has also approved Bình Chánh District People’s Committee application of land prices at Bến Lức-Long An Project in the district to advance 70 per cent of compensation for other families living near the complex.

Dr Lê Huy Bá, former head of Industrial University of HCM City’s Environmental Institute, told Zing online newspaper that the complex advertised to use modern technology for waste treatment, but the treatment was not good, leading to a bad smell and affecting neighbouring areas. The complex causes serious pollution, he said.

Dr Bùi Xuân An of Hoa Sen University said that the complex’s plan was not an appropriate one because it faced the wrong direction. He said the the wind blew the smell to residential areas in the city’s southeastern region.

According to environmental expert Nguyễn Đặng Anh Thi, the city authorities should closely monitor investors and fines for waste treatment that causes such smells.

The city should not open many waste treatment complexes, he said, adding that they should pay attention to effective technology to minimize influences on the environment, including control of smells during treatment and transport.

The city pays more than $20 per tonne for treated waste. —VNS