Krathinglai residents are
asking city officials to do something about the putrid odors emitted by
the city’s garbage-separation station on Soi Sukhumvit 3.
Phasakorn Channgam
Krathinglai residents pleaded with city officials to do something
about the putrid odors emitted by the city’s garbage-separation station
on Soi Sukhumvit 3.
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn and Pattaya City Council members
fielded questions and heard complaints from residents at the trash dump
March 11. Operated by the Pattaya Muang Sa-ad Joint Venture, the sorting
station has stunk up the Krathinglai neighborhood for five years.
One resident, identified only as “Samorn,” said every time residents
complain, Muang Sa-ad only takes measures that alleviate the smell for a
short time. Many residents feel ill and have developed respiratory
problems because of the fumes, she claimed.
Samorn said residents were told in 2010 that the
garbage operator’s lease would not be renewed when it came up in 2012.
“But the city has continued the contract without informing residents,
causing these various issues to continue.”
She also claimed pollution from the garbage plant had seeped into ground
water reserves.
Pattaya Muang Sa-ad Joint Venture Manager Pornlert Prittiannant
acknowledged that odor problems have been severe for about two months,
due to 72 tons of day of Koh Larn trash being diverted to the facility
from its normal disposal point in Khao Maikaew. Residents of that city
blocked roads into the dump in protest over the island’s garbage.
He said there’s nothing that can be done until city officials solve the
problem with Khao Maikaew.
Pornlert said renovations are being made to the front of his facility
that should prevent some odor from escaping into the community, but
noted that construction will take about six months.
He also acknowledged some waste water has escaped the facility into
ground supplies, but said the company is building a reserve tank to
collect the pollution.
Wutisak said he will dispatch Pattaya Public Health Department to spray
disinfectant to clear the smell at least temporarily. He also said
negotiations are ongoing with Khao Maikaew to allow garbage trucks to
access the dump after dark. Finally, the deputy mayor promised, he would
ask the city council to address additional funding for the joint venture
to cover the additional expenses created by the Koh Larn trash.
