New environmental taxes in the Netherlands are intended to help, but they could unintentionally fuel illegal waste dumping across Europe. An industry association raises serious concerns.
Key Takeaways
- New environmental taxes in the Netherlands aim to help but may inadvertently encourage illegal waste dumping across Europe.
- The Dutch Waste Management Association highlights the need for ongoing enforcement and realistic policies to combat waste crime.
- Increased costs for waste processing in the Netherlands raise the risk of illegal waste diversion to countries with looser regulations.
- A PwC study indicates that high levies can incentivise illegal dumping and make monitoring difficult for authorities.
- DWMA calls for a level playing field across Europe to effectively combat waste crime without creating new incentives for illegal activities.
Recent international inspections of waste streams by European enforcement services have led to the detection of illegal waste transports. Authorities intercepted large quantities of waste. Furthermore, they have initiated investigations into criminal networks involved in the illicit trade and dumping of waste.
The Dutch Waste Management Association (DWMA) states that it is necessary for European authorities to continue to address these practices. Waste crime causes significant environmental damage. In addition, it creates unfair competition for companies that collect, transport, and process waste streams in compliance with regulations.
Economic Pressures And Policy Risks
The association emphasises that effective enforcement must be accompanied by realistic policy. A substantial increase in the cost of waste processing in the Netherlands compared to other countries heightens the risk of waste streams being diverted to countries or circuits with less oversight or lower environmental standards.
Research by PwC indicates that large cost differences between countries can be a major driver for both legal and illegal cross-border movement of waste. This situation thereby increases the risk of avoidance and illegal processing.
The Dutch cabinet has decided not to introduce a planned polymer tax. However, its estimated revenue of approximately €567 million is being largely compensated through other measures in the waste domain. These include a higher waste tax and adjustments to the CO₂ levy.
Call For A Level Playing Field
A PwC study from September 2025 shows that such levies increase the incentive to illegally dump waste abroad or to under-report the proportion that is ultimately landfilled upon export. According to the study, this already occurs. Moreover, the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) has difficulty monitoring it as it is not permitted to conduct physical inspections abroad.
The Dutch Waste Management Association warns that a sharp rise in costs for waste processing could increase the risk of waste leakage and illegal activities. At a time when European enforcers are acting intensively against waste crime, it is important that policy does not create new incentives for waste to move outside the view of supervision and enforcement. The effective combating of waste crime requires both robust enforcement and an economically level playing field within Europe, DWMA announced.
Leave a Reply