Opinion: PFAS pollution: no room for half-hearted solutions

05.02.2025 | Fundamental right

Opinion by Toon Penen, concerned resident of Zwijndrecht and member of Grondrecht vzw

The remediation of the PFAS-contaminated soils in Zwijndrecht is a necessary step, but the way in which this is now threatening to happen is a major concern for us as a citizen collective. 3M proposes not to store the contaminated soil exclusively in recognized landfills, but to process parts of it in verges, dikes and piles. This is not a solution, but a shifting of the problem to future generations.

OVAM has failed in its responsibility

The capacity shortage at landfills in Flanders is not a recent problem. OVAM has known for years that the landfill capacity is under pressure, partly due to large infrastructure projects such as Oosterweel. Yet the agency has not sought a structural solution to provide sufficient space for Flemish waste. This shortage is now being abused as an excuse to take a dangerous and legally questionable route: spreading PFAS-containing soil in these verges, dikes and embankments.

A legally untenable solution

European law is clear: reuse of hazardous waste is only permitted if there is no risk to humans and the environment. Environmental lawyer Isabelle Larmuseau rightly states that the proposed solution is blatantly in conflict with European regulations. PFAS is a group of 'eternal chemicals' that easily spreads through air, water and soil. Processing these soils in verges entails a real risk of further spreading and long-term exposure.

In addition, the legal basis for the temporary PFAS action framework in Flanders is on its last legs. The auditor of the Council of State recently advised to destroy this framework due to its lax standards. Nevertheless, OVAM continues to rely on this shaky regulation to push through a dangerous strategy. This is evidence of a short-sighted policy that does not protect the environment, but rather the party responsible for the remediation.

Real remediation means safe storage

The only correct approach is to dump the contaminated soil in recognized landfills with the highest safety standards, and to use the maximum capacity to destroy the PFAS contamination in a responsible way through incineration. This means that the Flemish government must urgently work on expanding the landfill capacity. The responsibility for safely storing contaminated soil must not be shifted to the population by processing it in our living environment.

Grondrecht vzw calls on OVAM and the Flemish government to take their responsibility. No half measures, no spreading of PFAS under the guise of 'engineered solutions'. This is not a clean-up, this is a postponement of the problem that endangers the health of citizens and the environment. We demand a solution that protects future generations, not saddles them with the consequences of a failed policy.