Cheese factory fined $2 million for illegal wastewater dumping in Turkey

Authorities in Sakarya, Turkey, have fined a cheese production factory 2.15 million lira for illegally discharging untreated industrial wastewater into the local sewage system. The investigation, a joint effort by the Provincial Gendarmerie Command and the Sakarya Water and Sewerage Administration (SASKİ), began after reports of increased pollution in the Dinsiz Creek in the Hendek district.

During the inspection, teams discovered that the factory's wastewater was being diverted to an unauthorized underground storage facility. From there, it was released into the sewage system through an illegal pipeline without undergoing any treatment. This violation of environmental regulations led to the substantial administrative fine.

In addition to the fine, a criminal investigation has been launched against the factory's management under the charge of "intentional pollution of the environment." The case has been referred to the public prosecutor's office, signaling a serious response to the environmental damage caused by the factory's actions.