When you take your car for maintenance at a 4S store or an auto repair shop, you often notice a pungent odor. Yet many people are unaware that the operations at 4S stores generate large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Car painting is also one of the major contributors to air pollution. Moreover, improper collection and disposal of waste oil and used batteries can severely pollute the surrounding environment.

　　To thoroughly address VOC emissions pollution from the city’s auto repair industry, Chengdu conducted a month-long special enforcement inspection targeting automobile 4S stores. Yesterday, data released by the Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau showed that during inspections of 180 automobile 4S stores, on-site sampling and monitoring were carried out at 53 stores. To date, 28 stores have been formally investigated and penalized, and 5 stores have been ordered to make rectifications.

　　Car painting

　　One of the main culprits behind air pollution

　　According to data from relevant authorities, as of the end of April 2017, Chengdu’s total number of registered vehicles reached 4.2459 million, ranking second nationwide. The number of enterprises engaged in motor vehicle repair and dismantling has also been on a yearly upward trend.

　　“The exhaust gases from automotive painting primarily consist of harmful substances such as paint mist, benzene, toluene, and xylene. Not only do these gases have a foul odor, but if released directly into the atmosphere, they can cause photochemical pollution—making them one of the major culprits behind air pollutants like smog and ozone pollution—and posing significant health risks to humans.” Law enforcement officials told reporters that the focus of this special enforcement inspection is on whether automotive 4S stores have complete and proper environmental approval procedures; whether the storage and transfer of hazardous waste are conducted in compliance with regulations; whether pollution-control facilities are operating normally; and whether exhaust emissions meet the prescribed standards. Environmental violations involving excessive emission of exhaust gases will be severely cracked down upon.

　　Excessive emission of exhaust gases

　　Improper waste disposal

　　A relevant official from the Chengdu Environmental Protection Bureau told reporters that this inspection covered 180 auto 4S stores. Among the 28 stores already subject to investigation and enforcement and the 5 stores ordered to make rectifications, issues related to improper handling of hazardous waste and excessive emissions were ***particularly prevalent.

　　Accompanied by law enforcement officers, the reporter found during inspections that some auto repair businesses fail to keep containers sealed when transporting, transferring, storing, or using paints and solvents containing volatile organic compounds. Moreover, processes such as paint mixing, spraying, baking, and drying are not conducted in enclosed spaces or equipment, and these businesses also lack exhaust-gas treatment facilities. During the processes of applying putty and sanding in vehicle repairs, no dust or volatile organic compound collection and treatment systems are employed—factors all contributing to pollutant emissions. Additionally, some auto repair businesses, in violation of regulations, arbitrarily hand over hazardous waste to unqualified entities or individuals, mix it with domestic garbage, dispose of it indiscriminately, or even dump waste oil directly into heating and combustion equipment for incineration.

　　******Fine of 200,000 yuan

　　Refusal to make corrections will result in production suspension.

　　Regarding the issues and concerns identified during this inspection, the Chengdu Environmental Protection Bureau stated that it will thoroughly investigate these matters to the very end. For any potential hazards discovered during the inspection, the bureau will clearly specify corrective measures and deadlines. Environmental violations will be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law, and cases involving suspected criminal offenses will be promptly referred to the public security authorities for handling. In addition, the environmental protection authorities have also required relevant enterprises to establish comprehensive records for managing basic information on facility operations and the use of raw and auxiliary materials, as well as records for the import and export of hazardous waste. These records must be retained for at least five years.

　　According to the newly revised "Law on Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution," production and service activities that generate waste gases containing volatile organic compounds, if conducted not in enclosed spaces or equipment, fail to install or use pollution-control facilities as required, or fail to adopt measures to reduce waste gas emissions, shall be ordered by the environmental protection authorities under the people's governments at or above the county level to make corrections and fined between 20,000 yuan and 200,000 yuan. For those who refuse to make corrections, they shall be ordered to suspend production for rectification.