Zwijndrecht: requests adjustment of 3M permit conditions

Zwijndrecht requests adjustment of 3M permit conditions

12.07.2021 | Municipality of Zwijndrecht

In the context of the PFOS problem, the municipality asked the provincial executive on 22 June to adjust the permit conditions of chemical company 3M. The executive has complied with this request. The public inquiry for the adjustment will start on Monday 12 July.

To date, 3M is allowed to discharge wastewater with a limited concentration of PFAS into surface water and the Scheldt. On the one hand, this concerns PFOS residues from the historical contamination at the 3M site that are insufficiently captured by the water purification plant. On the other hand, the waste from the current production process still contains other PFAS that are less toxic but also persistent, and whose harmful effects on the environment are not yet sufficiently known.

The current permit of 3M contains a step-by-step plan to gradually reduce the PFAS concentrations in the wastewater. However, the increasing insight into the impact on people and the environment of the spread of non-degradable perfluorinated compounds, and the technical evolution of the possibility to remove FPAS, call for an accelerated phasing out.

Do not mop with the tap open

This is only a first but important step to curb the spread of persistent pollutants from the chemical industry on the left bank of the Scheldt. The spread of PFAS via the air must also be tackled urgently. The municipality, although not authorised in this matter, will take the initiative in the near future.

Steven Vervaet (Alderman for the Environment, Groen): “Which recovery measures are possible to tackle the historical pollution will have to become apparent in the coming months. At the same time, it must be clear that there is no room for further damage to our living environment with new pollutants.”

Looking for trust

André Van De Vyver (Mayor, Groen): “The municipality of Zwijndrecht’s confidence in the competent authorities has been seriously damaged in recent months, and skeletons keep falling out of the closet. Both the standardisation and the control of what leaves the 3M site via air and water raise serious questions. The way in which 3M deals with its environmental care duty also clearly leaves much to be desired.”

Steven Vervaet: “As a local community, we must be able to count on both producers and competent authorities to take their responsibility. The fact that the province is responding to our request and Flanders is also moving up a gear is certainly confidence-inspiring in that respect.”

Public inquiry into ex officio adjustment of 3M discharge standards

The documents will be available for inspection from Monday 12/07 via the environmental counter. You can preferably go to the website https://omgevingsloketpubliek.omgeving.vlaanderen.be/?openbaaronderzoekTo find the file, type the number 2021114012 in the search bar. The documents can only be consulted on the website of the environmental desk from 12 July 2021. Objections and positions are preferably also submitted via this web page. Under the file documents you will find the button 'add a new objection'. You fill this in. Only the objections or positions relating to the discharge standards will be considered. If you submit objections via this route, you will automatically be informed of the decision of the provincial executive.

The file documents are also available for inspection at the town hall. For this you need to make an appointment via 0800 99 604.