If it is up to the Limburg Nature and Environment Federation, the province will have to work hard to reduce nitrogen emissions.
Ton Hermanussen, director of the provincial representative for nature, the environment and landscape, made that statement in the Nieuwsshow on L1 Radio on Wednesday.
Lists
Lists were released on Tuesday of companies that emit a lot of nitrogen oxides and ammonia. Both chemical industrial estate Chemelot in Geleen and insulation company ROCKWOOL in Roermond are on this site.
Also read: Limburg companies emit a lot of nitrogen and ammonia
To startle
“I must honestly say that I am shocked. A third of the companies on the list are located in Limburg,” says Hermanussen. “And a third part comes from East Brabant, which is adjacent to Limburg.” According to the director, this makes it clear that a number of livestock farms and large industries in our province are responsible for a significant part of the nitrogen emissions.
health risks
Initially, the emissions are mainly harmful to Limburg’s nature, explains the director. “Limburg is very rich in numbers of Natura 2000 areas, a large part of which is very sensitive to nitrogen emissions.” The areas are protected from a European context. “And when nature is not in order, it is simply unhealthy for humans,” explains Hermanussen.
Government on the move
What now? “It is not so much a matter that cannot be done, but a matter of starting,” says Hermanussen. “There is serious work to be done, especially in Limburg. The only measure we are experiencing now is that you are no longer allowed to drive so fast on the highway.” In addition, there are few concrete measures against nitrogen emissions, he indicates.
According to Hermanussen, it is now the government’s turn. “For the first time I have the idea that it is serious. But it is also clear that it will not be clarified tomorrow.”
ROCKWOOL
At the top of the list for ammonia emissions is ROCKWOOL, which produces insulation systems for buildings. The Roermond company informs L1 that responsible environmental management is a ‘great good’. “That’s why we work every day to reduce our footprint while maximizing the benefits that can be gained from our products.”
According to the company, the emission of the substance takes place during the spinning process of rock wool fibers and during the curing of products. Emissions also occur during the recycling of waste materials. According to ROCKWOOL, emissions have been reduced by approximately 25 percent in 2019 compared to the 1990s.