The Ministry’s Response Regarding the Smell in Rustavi

Recently, the residents of Rustavi, especially on the side of New Rustavi, have been suffering from an unbearable smell. Residents have contacted us about the problem several times; therefore, in order to figure out what the source and the cause of the odor was, we sent a letter to the Department of Environmental Supervision on August 26, 2022.

We would like to share the Ministry’s response and the inspection results with you.

As it is clear from the letter, the source of the unpleasant smell is mushroom factory – LLC “Tetri Qudi”, which “is the probable source of the smell, as composting (waste recovery) is being carried out on the property”.

It is also clear from the letter, that since 2019, numerous inspections have been carried out at the enterprise and fines have been imposed for violations:

– The first inspection on October 15, 2019 revealed that the requirements, defined by the current legislation were violated. As a result, an administrative offense protocol was drawn up and the case was transferred to the Rustavi City Court. On March 9, 2020, the court found the company as an administrative offender and imposed a fine of GEL 7, 500. In addition to this, the company was obliged to eliminate the violations, detected during the inspection.

– After the expiration of the deadline, set in the administrative correspondence, de department checked the conditions of fulfillment of the obligations, specified in the correspondence. Inspection revealed, that these obligations were still unfulfilled. Moreover, inspection detected, that composting was being carried out without environmental decision. On the basis on administrative protocol, made on August 17, 2020, the court found the company as an administrative offender on November 20, 2020 and imposed a fine of GEL 14, 000.

– As a result of the inspection carried out on July 29, 2021, it was revealed, that the enterprise was still producing compost without an environmental decision, on this basis, signs of a criminal offense were identified and, accordingly, on July 30, 2021, the company’s right to produce compost was restricted.

– On October 27, 2021 the department once again carried out an inspection at the enterprise and once again revealed the fact of compost production without an environmental decision. On October 28, the court recognized the company as a violator and imposed a fine of GEL 30, 000. The company appealed this decision to the Tbilisi City Court and as of September 13, the case is under litigation.

– On August 12, 2022, the department again inspected the enterprise and the fact of compost production without an environmental decision was again revealed. Consequently, an administrative offense protocol was drawn up and sent to the Gardabani Magistrate’s Court. As of September 13 (the date of Ministry’s response), the case is under litigation.

As it is obvious, LLC “Tetri Qudi” repeatedly violates the law, likewise many other enterprises in Rustavi. And considering the unpleasant smell in the city these facts of violations take place much more often, than it is reflected in the information, sent by the Department of Environmental Supervision.

The informational material is prepared within the framework of the project “Defending Our Right to Clean Air in Rustavi” which is implemented with the support of the European Endowment for Democracy