An asphalt factory in Eindhoven emits too much of the hazardous substance benzene, the municipality announced today. The Environment Agency recently carried out a measurement on behalf of the municipal council. This showed that the standard is being exceeded: the asphalt plant emits twice as much benzene than is legally permitted.
The municipality has imposed a penalty on the company. If the asphalt plant does not reduce emissions, the municipality also threatens to partially shut down the production process. The Environment Agency will carry out more inspections in the near future. Each time, the company risks a fine of 10,000 euros.
The last inspection of the factory in Eindhoven was in 2018. There have been new rules on the emissions of these types of power stations since 2019, but no reliable measurement had been made since then.
Local residents relieved
Local residents are happy that their suspicions have now been confirmed. “The dirty air blows into the neighborhood day and night and I haven’t even mentioned the noise yet,” says Paul Speckers, spokesperson on behalf of the neighborhood residents. Broadcasting Brabant. His ultimate goal is to get rid of the asphalt plant completely. “That industry shouldn’t be so close to a residential area.”
Local residents will receive an official letter from the municipality tomorrow. An information evening is also planned in the evening where residents can ask questions.
More asphalt plants
Penalties have already been imposed on comparable factories in Bergen op Zoom and Nijmegen. Last summer, an asphalt factory in Den Bosch closed on its own initiative to investigate the company’s emissions.
Residents there too have been complaining for decades about odors and emissions from the power stations.
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