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Green Plans in Action: Netherlands: Milestones
Surface Water
Thirty years ago the river Rhine was so polluted no one was allowed to eat the few remaining fish. Now children swim and fish abound in the Rhine due to halting of large-scale salt dumping by French potassium mines and stricter NEPP requirements on industrial discharges. Phosphates, a leading cause of eutrophication in surface water, have been eliminated by NEPP policy promotion of phosphate-free detergents and water purification plants removing phosphates from wastewater. Impacts of wastewater on surface water have decreased dramatically as a result of new sewage policies. In addition, international agreements on water quality for the Rhine, Meuse, and Schelde rivers has supported cleaner flowing rivers and averted the threat of a drinking water shortage.
Processing Waste
From generation to disposal the waste problem in the Netherlands has been resolved. In 1972 the Dutch identified an increase in quantities of waste difficult to process, such as chemical and industrial waste, and special waste types including hospital waste and car wrecks. They sought solutions by expanding processing capability of incinerators and landfills. NEPP policies have now taken waste disposal to a new sustainable level of prevention through "producer responsibility" incentives, recycling, and prohibiting landfill when incineration is possible. Furthermore, NEPP policy has prohibited the exportation of waste to landfills in other countries.
Air Quality
Today the Dutch are enjoying healthy deep breaths, a dramatic change from the acute public health problems of yesteryear, particularly in the Rijnmond area. Air pollution caused by sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and lead compounds has become manageable as a result of the implementation of NEPP policies, and air quality in the Netherlands has dramatically improved. Use of these chemicals is controlled by voluntary covenants between the government and industry, with industry providing stringent measures of restraint on release of chemical pollutants.
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