Rules for dumping sites

Dumping is the disposal of waste materials either on or under the ground. It is the least environmentally friendly method of waste disposal. Waste materials that can be recycled or incinerated, such as biowaste, gas cylinders, and car tyres, may not be dumped. The list of waste materials subject to a landfill ban is set out in the Decree for Landfill and Waste Disposals Ban (Dumping Ban) (Besluit stortplaatsen en stortverboden van afvalstoffen, BSSA, in Dutch).

Environment and planning permit for environmentally harmful activities

To operate a landfill you need an environment and planning permit for an environmentally harmful activity. You apply for this at the Environment and Planning Portal (Omgevingsloket, in Dutch). The environment and planning permit and the Environmental Activities Decree (Bal, in Dutch) set out the rules you must follow. For example, you must cover the soil to protect it from contamination. 

You must prove that you are taking measures to limit nuisance or risks from, for example, odour, dust, noise, birds, and fire. You must also check the details of each load of waste and visually inspect the load. You record the result of your inspection with date, time, and location of dumping at your landfill. You must take a sample and keep it for at least 1 month. 

Location of landfill: check the environment plan

The municipality's environment plan specifies where landfill sites may or may not be located. That plan also contains the specific rules for each location.

Exemption from the dumping ban

Are you unable to process the waste, even temporarily? Then you must apply to your province for an exemption from the dumping ban (in Dutch).

Application for a non-cleanability statement for contaminated soil

Are you unable to clean contaminated soil or restrict it to 1 place (immobilisation)? You may only dump this soil with a statement of non-cleanability for contaminated soil. You can apply for this certificate to Rijkswaterstaat (in Dutch).

Landfill site closure and follow-up

Have you stopped dumping waste materials? Then request a declaration from your municipality that your landfill is closed. A final inspection will follow. You must have complied with all rules, and you must take measures if the soil under the landfill is contaminated or affected. The closed landfill must not cause any damage to the environment. You must describe in a follow-up plan (in Dutch) what measures you take to protect the soil, and how often inspections and investigations of the soil under the landfill take place. The municipality must approve this plan.

Exemption for activities at a former dumping site

Do you want to carry out activities at a former landfill site? If so, you must first apply to your municipality for an exemption for these activities.