Many businesses are operating but have not completed environmental protection projects.

(Baonghean) - Although the State has issued many regulations related to the responsibility of enterprises in environmental protection, besides enterprises with good compliance awareness, there are still many enterprises that focus too much on profits and ignore their responsibility to society and the community.

Implement technological innovation

For cassava starch processing facilities, wastewater and cassava residue are the two main wastes generated during the production process. If not treated properly, they can easily become “hot spots” for environmental pollution. Because wastewater generated from cassava starch production lines has typical parameters: low pH, high organic and inorganic content, shown through very high suspended solids (SS), TSS, nutrients containing N, P, indicators of biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ... with very high concentrations.

In addition, solid waste from cassava peels and solid residues causes bad odors, seriously polluting the air, affecting the production and daily life of people around the projects. To solve the source of cassava residue waste, right at the stage of investing in the cassava starch production line, Hoa Son Cassava Starch Processing Factory (under Hoa Son Agricultural Products Processing Company Limited) invested in a parallel cassava residue drying line. Cassava residue discharged from the cassava starch production line is led into a closed conveyor system and directly into the drying oven, so this cassava residue does not come into contact with the outside environment, causing unpleasant odors like in some cassava starch production facilities that have not invested in this residue drying system.

The company has invested in installing a wastewater treatment system using American biological technology with a treatment capacity of 2,000m³/day and night, with the cost of the wastewater treatment system being 67 billion VND, accounting for nearly 28% of the total production project. Accordingly, wastewater in the cassava starch production process is led to the buffer tank and transferred to the biogas tank (through a closed pipe system) to decompose the substances in the wastewater by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen; transferred to the biological treatment tank and then flowed into the reservoir.

Wastewater treatment system at Hoa Son Cassava Starch Processing Factory (Anh Son). Photo: Minh Chi

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Giang - Deputy General Director of Hoa Son Agricultural Products Processing Company Limited: "Currently, the factory's wastewater treatment system operates with guaranteed quality and through inspections by functional agencies, it meets the wastewater standards of type A according to QCVN 40/2011".

Also according to Mr. Nguyen Van Giang, based on the strategy of expanding the production line with more wastewater; at the same time applying the technology of processing, deep processing of cassava starch products and meeting the requirements of the Japanese and Australian markets with the requirement of good quality of input water, not the current recirculated water of the factory, the enterprise is currently completing the procedures for the Provincial People's Committee to approve the discharge of 50% of the water into the environment. When the Provincial People's Committee approves, the enterprise will proceed to install an automatic wastewater monitoring system and apply other environmental protection measures according to regulations.

Another typical example is Vinamilk Nghe An Dairy Factory, which has been in operation for more than 10 years in Nghi Thu Ward, Cua Lo Town. This is a business that is conscious of complying with regulations and applying environmental protection measures, which has been recognized by authorities, society and the people. Mr. Ta Minh Phuong - Technical Director of the factory said: Vinamilk produces on the principle of sustainable development and environmental friendliness.

Therefore, in addition to investing in a complete wastewater treatment system using Singapore's biological technology right from the start of production, every year, the enterprise also allocates 1 billion VND to operate the wastewater treatment system continuously 24 hours a day, ensuring that wastewater meets type A standards when discharged into the environment. The factory has also switched to using renewable gas energy instead of fossil fuel furnaces; collecting and treating some hazardous waste, including light bulbs, batteries, grease in machine maintenance, etc., is carried out according to the correct process. The factory grounds are planted with trees and flowers, creating a friendly and fresh environment.

Need regular, close monitoring

Besides the very few businesses that are conscious of complying with environmental protection regulations like the two businesses mentioned above, there are still many businesses that focus too much on profits and pay little attention to their responsibility to society and the community in environmental protection.

According to Clause 2, Article 27 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2014 and Clause 6, Article 16, Article 17 of Decree 18/2015/ND-CP; Circular 27/2015/TT-BTNMT, the investor's responsibility is to report to the competent authority approving the environmental impact assessment report to inspect and confirm the completion of environmental protection works before the project can be operated.

However, according to a report from the provincial Department of Environmental Protection, the issuance of certificates of completion of environmental protection works for large projects that are at risk of having negative impacts on the environment and are required to make reports confirming the completion of environmental protection works according to regulations in the province is still limited. This situation occurs in both types of enterprises and public service units such as hospitals and landfills. The types of enterprises are also diverse in fields such as brick production facilities; stone and metal mining; cassava starch processing; beer and sugar production; pig farms...

Specifically, many enterprises are currently in operation but have not been granted a certificate of completion of environmental protection works for the project, such as: Tuynel Brick and Tile Factory, capacity of 20 million bricks/year of Hoang Nguyen Company Limited (Nghi Lam commune, Nghi Loc district); Yen Thanh Tapioca Starch Processing Factory; Tin mining project of Thanh Chau Minerals Joint Stock Company (Chau Tien commune, Quy Hop district); Stone mining project of Nghe An Minerals Joint Stock Company (Nhan Son commune, Do Luong district); pig farm of Phuong Huy Company Limited (Nam Xuan commune, Nam Dan district); pig farm of Green Agricultural Development Company (Nghi Cong commune, Nghi Loc district)...

The reason for this existence is that the awareness of investors in environmental protection work is still limited, leading to many projects being put into operation without environmental protection works and measures or having them but not meeting the requirements of national technical regulations on the environment; not yet preparing a report on the completion of environmental protection works to send to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment or the Southeast Economic Zone for inspection, review and issuance of a certificate.

Although the authorities have proactively inspected, checked, urged and guided project owners in implementation, many projects still do not prepare documents for inspection and confirmation. Regarding the registration of confirmation of environmental protection commitments, the environmental protection plan is now confirmed by the district People's Committee; besides the low awareness of investors, currently, in some districts there are no specialized environmental officers, so the confirmation of the plan content does not really meet the requirements.

To overcome the above situation, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tien - Deputy Head of the Provincial Department of Environmental Protection, said: First of all, it is necessary to start with the sense of responsibility of enterprises in voluntarily complying with all conditions and requirements for environmental protection as prescribed by law when operating, including completing procedures to have competent authorities confirm the completion of environmental protection works before putting into operation. The competent authorities will continue to strengthen inspection and supervision, along with strengthening the handling of administrative violations against investors who have not yet completed records and have not yet obtained a certificate of completion of environmental protection works but have put the project into official operation.

Minh Chi