Last weekend, a meeting was held between the Ministry of the Environment, the Contractors’ Group, the Contractors’ Federation and the operators of inert waste landfills to discuss the problems of opening new landfills. Pol Faber, secretary general of the Contractors’ Group, described the meeting as “positive”.
Minister for the Environment Carole Dieschbourg is “clearly aware” of the problem of the lack of landfills for inert waste in Luxembourg, according to Faber. But it is “a puzzle with many pieces”, which have to be put together, Faber explained. First of all, a site for a potential landfill must be found. Then an agreement with the owner must be reached, and then there are many lengthy procedures that have to be followed.
Faber stated that the Minister has promised the Group that while she will naturally try to ensure that everything is done to respect these procedures, she will also see to it that they are carried out “as quickly as possible”.
For the time being, it is only possible to go as fast as the legal procedures allow. But it seems that progress is also being made on other tracks.
For instance, the Group welcomed the fact that it will have a collaborator in the Ministry of the Environment, whose main task will be to advance the coordination of landfills for inert waste, Faber stated.
Faber also thinks new landfills should not be concentrated in one part of the country. “Ideally, we should have an inert waste landfill in every region,” Faber explained, adding that this would also ensure that each landfill had a much longer life span.
All in all, Faber concluded that it was a “positive discussion” with the Minister but now it is to be seen whether actions will follow words.
