Debrecen4U August 24, 2026

CATL Debrecen Fined HUF 10 Million for Environmental Permit Breaches

The authorities have been instructed to subject all battery plants to the strictest possible inspections as these facilities have repeatedly, systematically, and deliberately ignored regulations in the past, meaning that people in Debrecen are now understandably distrustful of them, Zsolt Tárkányi, the Debrecen MP for the Tisza Party, said on social media. As he wrote, a spot inspection by the environmental authority found that CATL had breached the following conditions of its integrated environmental permit:

– The building did not display labels indicating the type or category of the waste. Some waste packaging and the collection containers in use carried labels exclusively in a foreign language.
– Due to the lack of appropriate labelling, it could not be established beyond doubt whether the collection containers used for the different types of waste were suitable for the nature of the waste.
– During the on-site inspection, the environmental authority found no signs, labels or notices at some of the on-site waste collection areas indicating that they were designated waste collection points.
– Based on observations during the inspection, different types of waste were being collected together, with their classification apparently determined solely by their physical appearance due to the lack of appropriate labelling.
– The environmental authority found no markings in the building indicating the hazardous nature of the waste concerned.
– Access to the building was unrestricted, meaning that the facility was not properly secured and unauthorised persons could enter at any time.
– According to the statement of a person interviewed as a witness during the inspection, they did not have an operating log. The records presented did not meet the content requirements laid down by law, as they did not, among other things, record the dates on which waste was placed at the on-site collection area or removed from it.

The authority repeated the spot check a month later and, fortunately, found everything in order, meaning that the stricter enforcement had achieved its intended purpose. CATL was nevertheless fined HUF 10 million, to remind the company how it is required to operate in compliance with the rules, Tárkányi pointed out.

This time there was no poisoning or environmental pollution, but further strict inspections and fines can be expected until every single rule is complied with. Thirty per cent of the fine, HUF 3 million, will be paid into the coffers of Debrecen City Council, he said, calling on the city leadership to use this money for environmental protection, for example to support the restoration of the deteriorating Great Forest.

Source and photo credit: dehir.hu