Oroszlány Waste Management Facility Closed Permanently: Environmental Permit Revoked

The secondary environmental authority has revoked the environmental permit for the Oroszlány site of Vértesi Környezetgazdálkodási Kft. and banned its operations with immediate effect. Under this decision, the facility, which belongs to the Mészáros Group, will cease operations. The measure was justified by severe environmental concerns, including pollutant levels exceeding legal limits, repeated benzene contamination, and previous legal violations.

Immediate Halt to Facility Operations

Based on the resolution of the secondary environmental authority, the Oroszlány facility of Vértesi Környezetgazdálkodási Kft. has lost the environmental permit essential for its operation. The decision is enforceable immediately, meaning the site can no longer continue its activities in any form. The official announcement regarding the closure was published on the social media page of Viktória Bögi, Parliamentary Secretary of State for the Ministry of Living Environment (a politician of the Tisza Party).

Severe Environmental Pollution and Prior Irregularities

During the official review leading to the site’s closure, it was revealed that the pollutant content of the materials produced at the facility—intended to be utilized as cover material—significantly exceeded safe limits. According to the Secretary of State’s briefing, this practice posed a direct threat to the surrounding soil and groundwater.

When making the current decision, authorities considered more than just the latest investigation results. The factors substantiating the closure included previously observed legal violations, repeated incidents of benzene contamination, and a recent oil spill. According to the authority, these collectively provided conclusive evidence that the facility was operating in an unsustainable and hazardous manner.

Strict Deadlines for Remediation: 60 Days for Waste Removal

The revocation of the permit not only entails an immediate halt to operations but also imposes strict obligations on the operator. The company has exactly sixty days to completely remove the waste accumulated at the site thus far. Furthermore, they must submit a comprehensive plan to the competent authority by the end of September at the latest, detailing the final termination and dismantling of the facility.

Background: April Workplace Accident and Groundwater Contamination

The Oroszlány site had already been targeted by authorities months ago. On April 29 of this year, the corporate group’s communications directorate informed MTI that, following a workplace accident, the Komárom-Esztergom County Government Office had temporarily banned the application of certain technologies, as well as the intake and receipt of related waste.

At that time, the company also reported that signs indicating groundwater contamination had been detected in the monitoring area connected to the Oroszlány site, a fact they officially reported to the authority. Consequently, the Government Office mandated further fact-finding investigations and stricter monitoring—a process that ultimately culminated in the current resolution permanently banning the facility’s activities.

References and Sources:

• Original news source: MTI – Oroszlány waste management facility closes, environmental permit revoked