20.08.2024 | Fundamental right
Fundamental rights demand faster approach to PFAS crisis in Zwijndrecht: “After three years of waiting, still no shovel in the ground”
Citizens' collective Grondrecht, which has submitted a petition to the municipal council of Zwijndrecht to tackle the PFAS crisis more quickly. According to the citizens' collective, there is too much procrastination in the file. "This is about making the gardens of approximately 4,000 families in this region habitable again”
It is no coincidence that Fundamental right submitted a remarkable petition during the August municipal council meeting.”It is one of the last sessions before the elections in October,“ says Toon Penen, member of the citizens' collective and himself affected by the PFAS crisis.After that, Zwijndrecht will be merged into a large municipality. We are concerned about whether our interests will still be defended as well. Now, as Zwijndrecht, we can still take firm positions, but soon we will be just one of thirteen sub-municipalities.“
Slow progress
According to Grondrecht, the approach to the case is proceeding much too slowly.”It is about restoring the liveability of the gardens of some 4,000 families in the region. Despite warnings from experts to reduce exposure as quickly as possible, no action has been taken after more than three years. It seems as if every political party, now that the election campaigns have started, wants to distance itself from this problem and continues to look the other way. We call on the municipality of Zwijndrecht to take its responsibility and urge the higher authorities to take faster action.“
Alarming research
The urgency is further underlined by new scientific research.”OVAM recently published a report on the increased PFAS concentrations in green waste in Zwijndrecht,” said Penen. “But it remains unclear what concrete measures OVAM wants to take, or whether they will come at all. In addition, other research indicates that the absorption of PFAS through the skin is much greater than previously thought. This means that daily exposure to PFAS is even more serious than we initially thought. This should prompt both policymakers and health authorities to take action, but it remains deafeningly silent.“
An unnecessary bridge?
According to the schedule, the first phase of the clean-up would begin in March next year.”But first they want to build a redundant bridge over the E34 to remove the contaminated soil. Why not simply create a connection to the parallel road? After all, there is already a bridge with a connecting road that leads directly to the entrance of 3M. This seems more like a delaying manoeuvre. In the meantime, not a single shovel has gone into the ground in the residential area to actually remove the contaminated soil. The residents continue to wait, while the health risks continue unabated.“
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