The HCM City's Department of Natural Resources and Environment has asked the city People's Committee to fine the Vuon Lai Printing Joint-Stock Company for seriously polluting the environment.

The fine can reach up to 185 million VND (9,500 USD), according to the department.

Such a high fine cannot be imposed by the department unless it is approved by the city People's Committee.

The company, which offers packing printing services in District 10's Ward 5, fails to commit to protecting environment in accordance with the law, according to the inspection team of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

The company, which does not have a wastewater treatment system, discharged all of its untreated wastewater during the printing process, which ended up in the city's drainage system.

The wastewater discharged from the company was found to exceed the allowable level between five and 10 times.

In addition, the company's waste, which contained ink and devices that contained ink, was not sent to the appropriate agencies for treatment in accordance with the law.

Instead, it was mixed with other waste from the company and discharged illegally, according to the inspection team.

The department has also asked the city committee to demand that the company install a wastewater treatment system and register the ownership of the hazardous waste within 30 days.

It also said the company must classify and transfer the hazardous waste to appropriate companies for treatment.

Prior to this case, the inspection team also examined the Gia Dinh – Phong Phu Textile Join-Stock Company, Tuong Lai Xanh Trading – Service Ltd Company and Ngoc Phu Trading – Service Ltd Company.

All the three companies were also found to violate the environmental law.

The Gia Dinh – Phong Phu Textile Joint-Stock Company was fined once in 2007 for discharging untreated wastewater into the environment.

The other two companies were found storing hazardous waste without having licences for the management of hazardous waste.

Nguyen Thi Du, head of the inspection team of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, has decided to fine the Gia Dinh – Phong Phu Textile Joint-Stock Company 6 million VND (300 USD) for discharging untreated wastewater into the environment.

The other two companies were fined 25 million VND (1,250 USD) each for storing hazardous waste without a licence.

The companies were required to transport only licensed hazardous waste in accordance with the law.

The new environmental regulation, which took effect in March, imposes higher fines on violators than the previous law.

Before March, companies that did not transfer hazardous waste to the appropriate companies for treatment in accordance with the law were fined only 10 million VND (500 USD) – 30 million VND (1,500 USD).

But after March, they were fined up to 100 million VND (5,000 USD) for each violation./.