ANPTate Steel in IJmuiden
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 08:02
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Jorn Jonker
political reporter
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Hatixe Raba
editor Domestic
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Jorn Jonker
political reporter
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Hatixe Raba
editor Domestic
The waste from steel producer Tata Steel is put into the ground throughout the Netherlands and parties in the House of Representatives are demanding that the government quickly do something about this. According to recent research, the use of that waste can be risky for people and the environment. GroenLinks-PvdA, D66, BBB and the Party for the Animals believe that the government is not doing enough with that signal.
When producing steel, waste remains, a kind of gray, stone-like material, so-called steel slag. Tata Steel wants to get rid of that waste and sells it to contractors through an intermediary.
They use it in many places in the country, for example to raise roads. This is advantageous for them, because they do not have to buy expensive sand sometimes even receive money to use the steel slag properly.
Nosebleeds and burns
Last April, the supervisory authority, the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT), withdrew raise the alarm about this. Because the substances in those steel slags, such as metals and quicklime, can spread and end up in the groundwater, for example.
Steel slag is sometimes also dumped directly into the water to strengthen dikes, for example. The regulator concluded “that the legal rules for the use of steel slag do not sufficiently cover the risks for people and the environment”.
For example, the ILT wrote: “When these substances end up in the soil and groundwater, the animals and plants that live there can die. It is also known that residents living in areas where steel slag has been used have experienced health problems, such as nosebleeds and burns.”
Suspended immediately
Clear language from the supervisor. But the responsible State Secretary Heijnen (CDA, Infrastructure and Water Management) has not yet come up with new rules and recently wrote to the House that she is still discussing this. This is not going well with the parties in the House.
“We should not use steel slag if we are not sure whether they are safe,” says GroenLinks-PvdA MP Gabriëls. He wants its use to be suspended immediately. “Companies have to prove whether it is safe and at the moment this is not yet certain.”
Tata Steel response
Tata Steel is aware of the discussion about the steel slag, but does not want to participate in it, says a spokesperson. “We are not going to anticipate any new legislation and regulations. We will adhere to the existing rules.”
Tata Steel states that steel slag is not waste, but a ‘by-product’, because according to the rules it can now be used for something else, such as raising roads. “Steel slag is not harmful to nature, if applied correctly.”
BBB also wants more action. “You might expect more urgency given the fact that harmful substances from the steel slag end up in the soil and surface water,” says MP Pierik. D66 MP De Groot has asked parliamentary questions and wants the State Secretary to act faster “to prevent pollution to the environment”.
The Party for the Animals would prefer a ban on the use of steel slag. “The State Secretary should act faster,” says MP Kostić. “Too often she now gives more weight to the interests of major polluters than the interests of nature, animals and citizens.” Other political parties such as NSC do not yet know what they think of steel slag because they still have to read up. The PVV does not respond.
On its own initiative
The government currently does not know where all the steel slag is in the ground. To change this, the State Secretary is considering a reporting obligation for those who want to use the material. She will make a decision about this within a few weeks, she told NOS. Until then, she calls on companies to report it on their own initiative to the environmental services, which monitor compliance with environmental regulations.
Several parties want such a reporting obligation immediately, including Omgevingsdienst NL, the national association of the 28 environmental services. Chairman Ruben Vlaander says that he has already asked for this in The Hague.
If I were concerned, I would ban it immediately.
State Secretary Heijnen (Infrastructure)
If there were a reporting obligation, contractors would have to indicate that they want to use steel slag and where they want to do so. The environmental agency then has time to tell the local government that requirements must be imposed on use. “Such a reporting obligation is also important for the future,” says Flanders. “You want to know where it is if, for example, a road needs to be moved.”
But the State Secretary is not concerned about possible health or environmental damage. “If I were concerned, I would ban it immediately. Stricter rules are needed and we are now making them.” She acknowledges that it takes a long time. “But it is a whole process that requires careful consideration.”
2024-02-03 07:02:06
#MPs #tougher #action #Tata #Steel #waste
