The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) recently finalised an investigation into a complex regional waste management system in Hungary, according to a press release published on Wednesday 23 November.
The investigation concerned four projects. Based on the irregularities found, OLAF has recommended the recovery of almost €11 million of EU funding.
OLAF Director-General Ville Itälä explained that OLAF investigators had detected planning and design errors as well as a lack of compliance with the objectives of the project. “We also found that the positive impact on the environment was lower than expected.” Problems with the projects have led to several fires, with dangerous emissions and a very negative impact on air quality, said Mr Itälä.
The projects included the establishment of a mechanical-biological waste treatment unit to produce combustible waste, which as then to be sold for energy production.
However, much of the waste produced ended up remaining on the project site. Two serious fires have occurred for this reason. The project beneficiary finally decided to stop using the biological treatment unit and to transport the entire biological fraction (about 60% of all communal waste) to another disposal site, in violation of the project’s targets and objectives. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)