IJmond municipalities are fed up with pollution Tata Steel: ‘No more porridge and wet’

Administrators of three municipalities in the IJmond region are fed up with the pollution and nuisance caused by Tata Steel. They believe the limit has been reached and say the steelmaker can only survive if it “produces green, healthy and safe steel”, a joint statement said. de Volkskrant.

The immediate reason is last week’s RIVM report, in which it was concluded that the amounts of harmful substances are higher than in other regions. Settling dust contains too much lead and carcinogenic substances, especially in Wijk aan Zee.

Moreover, since 2019, those quantities have increased fivefold, the report shows. Tata Steel is also the largest CO2 emitter in the Netherlands.

Today in the House of Representatives there is a committee debate about the future of the steel factory.

Changing times

The responsible aldermen of Beverwijk, Heemskerk and Velsen are now breaking “the tacit social contract” that has existed between the municipalities and the steel giant for decades, according to the newspaper. They speak of “changing times”, but at the same time say: “Steel production in our region has a future.”

The economic importance of the steel factory for IJmond is great. Tata Steel Netherlands employs 11,000 people, 9,000 of whom in IJmuiden. That is without the number of people who benefit from the steel giant through suppliers.

“The nuisance and possible health risks were taken for granted,” says D66 alderman Van den Berg van Beverwijk. “That the laundry outside got dirty from the emissions, that was part of it. Now we know for sure that it is not good for health in the IJmond.”

CDA alderman Brouwer of the municipality of Heemskerk thinks it is time for major steps. “The traditional way of poop and wet has come to an end.”

Tata: moving is not an option

The rulings of the aldermen are in line with those of Deputy Olthof of Noord-Holland and outgoing State Secretary. Van Weyenberg (Infrastructure and Water Management). Both also wondered aloud last week whether there is still room for the factory in the IJmond area if it remains as dirty as it is now.

Tata Steel itself emphasized that emissions have already fallen sharply, but acknowledged that it could have started earlier with measures to make the factory cleaner.

Moving is not an option for the company. “That is running away from the problems,” said CEO Van den Berg last week news hour. “We think it is very possible to make responsible steel and we also think that making steel is important for the Netherlands. It just has to be clean.”

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