In October 2024, inspectors from the Regional Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Wrocław, in cooperation with officers from the Lubań County Police Headquarters, carried out official activities in Lubań County. Inspectorate:
Excavations were carried out using heavy equipment at locations previously selected on the basis of soil surveys conducted with specialist equipment.
Thirteen excavations were made, revealing (...):
- mixed construction waste, including hazardous substances in the form of construction chemicals and contaminated packaging containing residues of the substances stored in them;
- waste from car parts;
- plastic waste;
- rubble.
In the exposed soil, inspectors found localized contamination and discoloration. In addition, an odor of petroleum-derived substances was detectable. (Samples of the waste were collected for testing.)
The Wrocław Regional Inspectorate for Environmental Protection notified the prosecutor’s office of the possibility that a crime had been committed. The inspectors emphasized: – The activities were carried out at a site not intended for the disposal or storage of waste. It was determined that burying waste at the aforementioned site constituted illegal waste processing.
They added: – Conducting waste-processing activities without the required permit is subject to an administrative fine of between PLN 1,000 and PLN 1,000,000. Furthermore, depending on the classification of the offense, the crimes uncovered are punishable by imprisonment of between one and 10 years.