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A man in Khe Tang Village said a terrible smell comes from burnt plastics and rubber produced by plastics recycling workshops.

Dong Thanh workshop collects plastic waste and rubber tubes to make black plastic buckets that are used to hold mortar and thermoplastic tubes.

Though located in BichHoa commune, the gases generated during the production go to neighboring areas, affecting the lives of residents in Khe Tang Village of Cu Khe commune.

Pham Dang Tien, head of My Hamlet, told reporters that the locals have been living with serious air pollution for six to seven years.

Meanwhile, Pham ThiThuc, a Cau Hamlet resident, complained that many children in the hamlet suffered from chronic respiratory diseases, saying that the toxic air was the culprit.

Khe Tang’s people have reported the pollution to the commune’s district’s and city’s authorities. They have lodged complaints many times with local press agencies and have talked about the issue at meetings between electors and National Assembly deputies.

However, the situation has not improved.

Nguyen Anh Phuong, deputy chair of the Cu Khe Commune People’s Committee, admitted that commune authorities cannot settle the problem because the plastics recycling workshop was not located in the commune.

The only thing the commune’s authorities can do is report the problem to the district’s authorities and ask for help. However, no solution has been found.

The problem is that the BichHoa commune authorities denied responsibility for the pollution.

Nguyen DucOanh, head of Giua Hamlet in BichHoa commune, where Dong Thanh plastics recycling workshop is located, said Dong Thanh had relocated to another place far from residential quarters and had not heard complaints about pollution.

Meanwhile, Nguyen DucHoa, deputy chair of BichHoa Commune People’s Committee said the operation of Dong Thanh in no way affected BichHoa’s people.

He said the local authorities have not heard any complaints from BichHoa’s people, while it is not their responsibility to take care of people in other localities.

Hoa showed reporters documents to prove that Dong Thanh plastics recycling workshop has a waste treatment system and takes necessary measures to ensure environmental safety.

In such a confusing situation, local authorities in Khe Tang said they do not know what is actually causing air pollution.