VietNamNet Bridge – Residents of Loc Thuy Commune in central Thua Thien-Hue Province are blocking garbage trucks from entering a local waste treatment plant, saying that it has severely polluted the neighbourhood.

Stagnant water from Loc Thuy solid waste treatment area’s dumping site pollutes the surrounding areas in central Thua Thien-Hue Province. -- Photo dantri.com.vn

Residents alleged that they are plagued by flies, there’s garbage lying scattered on the roads, and the stench emanating from the plant has made it almost impossible to live in the surrounding areas. The plant had a serious impact on the environment, they said on Thursday.

Since early this year, the number of garbage trucks entering Hue Urban Environment and Public Works State Co. Ltd. (HEPCO) to go to the Loc Thuy solid waste treatment area has increased significantly to several tens of trucks per day.

Nguyen Thi Nguyet, 43, a resident of Loc Thuy Commune, said she and other residents find the stench unbearable, especially during meal times. The dumping site has also polluted the surrounding rice fields and she has skin reactions when she works in the fields, she said.

Residents have approached the local authority to resolve the issue, but the situation has not improved, Nguyet said.

Tran Van Huu, Chairman of the Commune’s People’s Committee, said the committee organised a dialogue between locals and the company’s representatives on February 27 to solve the problem. The committee has asked residents to stop blocking the garbage trucks and has promised to work with the company to improve the situation quickly.

The US$3.42 million Loc Thuy solid waste treatment area began operations in 2011. It has been built to collect garbage from 18 communes and towns in Phu Loc District and its daily capacity is 135 tonnes of garbage.

VNS