LEVELS of environmental pollution in Yangon have remained under permissible levels, an official from the Yangon City Development Committee said last week.

“As our country is not industrialized, the volume of carbon and solid waste produced in Yangon everyday have not reached considerable levels,” U Lin Tun Myint, the head of the YCDC’s Pollution Control and Cleansing Department told The Myanmar Times.

He said that there are no pollution problems in the entire country – not even in Yangon.

However, he said that early this year the YCDC initiated a move to make sure the level of pollution in the capital stays under control and to begin testing waste.

U Sai San Oo, an assistant head of the department, said the move was aimed to make it possible for factories to dispose of their waste in public areas after it has been treated.

He said the YCDC first carried out waste testing at four factories, including the distillery belonging to Peace Myanmar Group Co., Ltd and Maung Maung and Brothers leather factory.

The testing of waste from another five factories, including chemical plants and those manufacturing foods and beverages and cosmetic products, is now underway.

The samples were tested for pH value, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, suspended solids and total solids. The results showed the waste must be treated before being disposed of in public areas.