The Security Service of Ukraine exposed a company from Sievierodonetsk city on gross violation of eco-norms during the disposal of hazardous waste, including from hospitals that counter COVID-19.

The exposed company is the only one in the region that specializes in the waste. The company has contracts for waste disposal with several dozen companies and municipal enterprises in the region. Under the contracts, the enterprise is obliged to remove and sort toxic waste, as well as its transportation for further processing or destruction at the facilities of other domestic enterprises.

Instead, since the beginning of this year, parties stopped fulfilling their obligations. During this time, the landfill of the company, located 100 meters from the residential areas of Novodruzheska, turned into a landfill of toxic waste. Tons of spent hazardous waste, including waste from the medical facility for countering the coronavirus infection, were accumulated near the residential districts.

The checks initiated by the SBU showed that this situation resulted in the pollution of the ecosystem of the region and poses a threat to the health of citizens. In addition, it is a violation of the Ukraine-European Union Association Agreement, according to which Ukraine is obliged to implement European standards in the field of waste management.

Now, the company was set amount of time for bringing activities in line with licensing conditions and eliminating the consequences of abuse. If the company does not fulfil the obligations, it will be prosecuted and deprived of a license.  

The operation was conducted jointly with the State Ecological Inspection.