Ilfov Prefecture Refuses Alert Status in Sinești Despite 80% of Days with Polluted Air
The Ilfov County Emergency Situations Committee rejected a declaration of alert status for illegal waste burning in Sinești. Interim Environment Minister Diana Buzoianu criticises the decision and questions the authorities' commitment.
Ilfov authorities reject alert status in Sinești despite pollution data
Ilfov Prefecture and the Ilfov County Emergency Situations Committee (CJSU) have decided not to declare alert status for illegal waste burning in the Sinești area, Vidra commune. The decision was announced on Saturday by interim Environment Minister Diana Buzoianu, who stated that the institutions concluded the situation did not justify such a measure.
According to News.ro, Buzoianu posted a message on Facebook criticising this conclusion explicitly: "Apparently the situation isn't really that serious for people's health," she wrote, summarising the position of local authorities.
"80% of days, the air was moderate, poor or very poor"
The interim minister presented data which, in her opinion, contradicts the decision taken. According to this, on over 80% of days in 2026, air quality in the area was classified as moderate, poor or very poor. "With moderate air quality, vulnerable people — children, elderly, people with chronic illnesses — are advised to stay indoors. In 80% of days in 2026, this was the recommendation for them," Buzoianu said.
The Ilfov CJSU argued that there were not enough days on which the limit values for air pollutants had been exceeded. Furthermore, the committee indicated in its decision that the recorded exceedances could also have come from other sources, such as pollen or dust carried by wind.
Ilfov Public Health Directorate: "It has no studies on the effects of polluted air"
Buzoianu also highlighted the position of the Ilfov Public Health Directorate (DSP), which she considered emblematic of the general attitude of the authorities: "The Ilfov Public Health Directorate comes and says it has no studies on air quality and its effects on the population in Sinești. Normal. Why would it? And if it doesn't have any, it's difficult for the Ilfov Public Health Directorate to know if polluted air damages health," she commented.
Environmental Guard: waste confiscated worth 6 million lei in a single operation
The interim minister recalled that the criminal phenomenon in the area is of considerable scale. The Environmental Guard confiscated waste worth 6 million lei in a single operation during this year, materials intended for sale on the black market. Buzoianu also stated that authorities were called to extinguish illegal fires in Sinești more than once every three days, on average.
"Ilfov Prefecture and the authorities in the County Emergency Situations Committee have decided outright that it is not such a serious situation, that the illegal burning in the area is merely periodic and not widespread," Buzoianu said. She added rhetorically: "Should we still be surprised why the waste mafia has remained untouched for years in Sinești, if all the authorities with relevant powers refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation?"
Ilfov Prefecture: report approved, monitoring to continue
In an official statement, Ilfov Prefecture confirmed that at the CJSU meeting the report drawn up by the working group established under Ilfov CJSU Decision no. 9 of 28 September 2026, concerning illegal transport and disposal of waste, including through incineration, in the Sinești area was approved. "The Ilfov CJSU rejected the declaration of alert status in the Sinești area of Vidra commune, Ilfov county. The Prefecture Institution — Ilfov County will permanently monitor the evolution of the situation in the Sinești area and the results of the measures ordered," the document states.
Context: the minister's request of 24 September
Diana Buzoianu had requested on 24 September that the Ilfov and Bucharest prefectures institute alert status following the illegal burning in Sinești. The request aimed at activating relevant mechanisms and ensuring continuous monitoring, 24 hours a day, in the affected area. The response from the county authorities, transmitted on Saturday, was negative.
Source: News.ro