Environmental Protection Authority Shuts Down Polluters


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Addis Abeba’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has taken enforcement action against 3,249 manufacturers and service providers found violating environmental standards in the 2024/25 fiscal year. The violations, ranging from air and noise pollution to improper waste disposal, were identified during inspections of 14,872 businesses citywide. Penalties included warnings and closures, with shutdown orders issued to six plastic factories, 23 block factories, a soft paper plant, 102 nightclubs, 15 garages, an oil manufacturer, a machinery and metalworks facility, and a furniture producer. EPA Director General Dida Diriba said the Authority collected 1.6 million Br in fines and imposed additional penalties exceeding 120 million Br for breaches such as riverbank pollution. The measures, targeting vehicle emissions, industrial discharges, and waste mismanagement, signal an intensified push to enforce environmental laws and safeguard public health.


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