Although directors at ArcelorMittal refuted the allegations on Friday, the municipalities of Differdange and Suessem said they disagreed. Local authorities have been asking the steel company for exact details on the waste left at the site since 2007, and have said there will be no further green light as long as they have no answers.
Differdange councillor, Ali Ruckert, said although the problem is once again in the news, it is a long-running issue in the area. The historical site of the dump was always designed for the steel industry and its waste.
But times have changed and what was once tolerable is now in question, as the local municipalities are not being given the information they need. Suessem mayor Georges Engel said the first intervention on behalf of local authorities began in 2007, but that they were still waiting for concrete answers.
Whether the Ministries for Economy and Environment are on the same page is not yet known. It is also not certain whether Minister Carole Dieschbourg will tackle the issue in the relevant Chamber meeting next week. ArcelorMittal said they would cooperate and strive for transparency, as president Michel Wurth said they were in discussions with the government. Wurth also went on to describe the issue as a storm in a teacup.
Georges Engel however said there was categorically waste at the dump which required further analysis in order to avoid potential health and environmental issues.
Video in Luxembourgish
ArcelorMittal statement: Directors refute allegations of hazardous waste at Differdange landfill
