Glina and Vidra facilities fined following odor complaints in Bucharest

Following over 1,300 complaints regarding intense, unpleasant odors in Bucharest and Ilfov during mid-August, the National Environmental Guard has identified the Glina wastewater treatment plant and the Vidra waste deposit as the most likely sources of the issue.

Authorities have issued fines totaling nearly 800,000 lei following inspections of over 50 companies. For the Glina plant, the Environmental Agency has proposed a 60-day suspension of its environmental permit to allow for the remediation of identified non-compliances.

Apa Nova, the operator of the Glina plant, is contesting the findings and the resulting sanctions. The company argues that the report lacks technical evidence and relies on subjective perceptions rather than objective measurements. Apa Nova maintains that its operations comply with legal requirements and that water quality analyses show values well below European Directive limits.