EU shames Greece and Spain over dirty waste dumps
Date: 03-Oct-02
Country: BELGIUM
Both Mediterranean countries have at least 10 waste dumps that break EU rules that aim to reduce air, soil and water pollution from garbage tips. They both face legal action.
Each EU citizen produces an average of 540 kg of waste a year, of which 57 percent goes to landfill. The EU's 1999 landfill directive sets strict rules on what types of waste can go to landfill and how tips must be managed.
But the Commission, which has the role of ensuring EU rules are applied, said many countries were ignoring the law.
"We receive a steady flow of complaints from people who are worried about the impact that illegal or badly managed landfills can have on their health," EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom said in a statement identifying the worst offenders.
Italy was next on the Commission's roll of shame, with eight legal suits against it for operating substandard tips. Ireland faces five cases and Britain, France and Germany each have one.
Although the legal process is long and arduous, countries can face hefty fines if the EU court finds they repeatedly ignore environmental rules.
Greece had to pay 20,000 euros ($19,760) for every day it continued to ignore a 2000 ruling against an illegal waste dump in Crete. The final fine added up to more than five million euros.
