The European Commission is sending Spain a final warning about a breach of EU laws governing the treatment and disposal of industrial waste. The case concerns the stockpiling of solid industrial waste in the Huelva estuary without the necessary waste management measures for the protection of the environment. The stockpiling has been going on for more than 40 years, and some 120 million tonnes of waste have now been dumped.
European Environment Commissioner Janez Poto?nik said: "Nature is not a dustbin and Member States must manage the waste they produce each year in an environmentally-friendly way. I do not like to see waste dumped without adequate disposal plans, and I urge Spain to put its house in order quickly."
Industrial waste in the Huelva estuary
For more than 40 years, fertiliser manufacturers have been dumping industrial waste in the Rio Tinto marshlands near the city of Huelva. 120 million tonnes of phosphogypsum, a substance that forms when phosphate is reacted with sulphuric acid to produce fertilizer, have been landfilled in area of 1200 ha.
An industrial permit was granted to the companies concerned in 2008. But after a close examination of the permit, the Commission considers that by failing to consider phosphogypsum as industrial waste and applying to these activities the requirements set under EU waste legislation, the Spanish authorities are still in breach of several EU environmental laws.
Spain has to submit its reply within two months. If the Commission were satisfied with Spain's reply, the case could be referred to the Court of Justice.