Solid Waste Disposal in the Netherlands

Abstract

In The Netherlands, a small and densely populated country, the disposal of solid waste requires strict precautions. Because the landscape is flat and the watertable just under groundlevel, landfilling and dumping must be avoided as much as possible. Incineration of municipal and industrial waste are presently under consideration. But even when excellent flue gas cleaning systems are used, air pollution can present a problem, for instance, by dioxines produced during the process. For these reasons the government has published a waste disposal policy plan in which recycling, composting and prevention of waste production play a major role. Eventually about one third of the solid waste production will be incinerated or dumped. No solid waste will be exported.