Report: municipalities know too little about substances of concern ANP
Municipalities and environmental services have too little knowledge and data about “substances of very high concern”. And that while they are responsible for granting licenses to companies that work with such substances. The municipalities, provinces and environmental services themselves have come to this conclusion in a report. They state that “a strong improvement” is needed on various fronts.
For example, there is a need for more technical knowledge. Sometimes even the basic knowledge at the local level is lacking. The authors of the report also state that there is a need for “broader, more integrated policy”. The substances of concern in question end up in the environment in many different ways. Controls are now mainly aimed at heavy industry, but not at smaller companies that work with the substances. “It is possible that the problem is not fully surveyed and many small ones also cause large emissions,” it sounds.
Substances of very high concern (ZZS) are substances that can be hazardous to humans and the environment. “For example, because they can hinder reproduction, are carcinogenic or because they build up in the food chain,” the report said. There are now 1500 on the list of these substances. There is no good overview of where they are all used. “Substances are produced, processed, used and reused. The current user/processor often does not know whether ZZS have been added to the materials with which they work.”
ZZS-pact
Not only health and the environment, but also housing and the economy can be damaged by these uncertainties. For example, many construction projects came under pressure in 2019 due to contamination of the soil with chemicals that fall under the heading PFAS.
In order to better tackle the problem, the Association of Dutch Municipalities, the Interprovincial Consultation and other involved organizations are advocating a “ZZS pact”. The central government, the local authorities and the business community and the business community must work together in this to get a grip on the potentially hazardous substances.