WRITTEN QUESTION E-2799/01

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(9 October 2001)

Subject: Environmental crime in the Sierra de Fontcalent (Alicant, Spain)

The population in the rural districts of the municipality of Alicante (Rebolledo, Cañada del Fenollar, La Alcoraya, Verdegas, Lo Xeperut) have for a long time had to suffer serious inconveniences, harm and health risks resulting from the Alicante solid urban waste tip, the treatment plant for slurry from the municipal sewage works and other tips in the area.

More specifically:

- The solid urban waste plant (managed until July 2000 by Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) and thereafter by INUSA) does not have an appropriate collection system to prevent leaching so that the groundwater is contaminated; instead of being buried, waste is left in the open thus generating plagues of insects, fires, toxic gases and bad smells; rubble is illegally mixed in with urban waste and waste is piled to illegal heights. The tip also accepts other illegal waste such as tyres and industrial by-products against payment.

The tip is described as a urban waste treatment and composting plant but the waste is neither treated nor composted. Finally, INUSA has failed to meet the deadlines and conditions set in July 2000 when the municipal government awarded INUSA the contract to manage the tip until 2012.

- At the sewage slurry desiccation plant operated by the Emarasa joint venture, the slurry is poured onto the site without any prior treatment and gives rise to plagues of insects and an unsupportable stench; moreover, the site is not guarded and this leads to illegal tipping.

- In view of the absence of any controls by the municipality, another company, Abornarsa, has opened a third disposal area for sewage slurry next to the two original sites. This third site, which is used for the disposal of sewage slurry from other municipalities, is illegal and lacks in any kind of municipal license.

The local residents have joined together to form the Plataforma Ciudadana por la Calidad Ambiental (Citizens' Platform for the Quality of the Environment) to protest and to raise public awareness. They have gathered more than 2500 signatures in support of the various complaints lodged with the local, national and European authorities and of the charges of environmental crime filed with the Civil Guard's Service for the Protection of Nature (Seprona).

What measures does the Commission intend to take in order to ensure that the Alicante waste disposal tips comply with Community legislation on the protection of the environment and in order to guarantee the safety, and protect the health, of residents of the rural districts of Alicante?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 2001)

The Honourable Member draws attention to the degradation of the environment in the Sierra de Fontcalent, caused by the Alicante solid urban waste tip, a sewage slurry desiccation plant and other tips in the area.

As a result of this state of affairs the local population have had to suffer harm and health risks.

The Commission has no knowledge of the facts mentioned by the Honourable Member. It has therefore asked the Spanish authorities for their comments on the facts to ensure compliance with the Community legislation applicable in this case, particularly with:

- Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste(1), as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991(2);

- Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991 on hazardous waste(3).

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.

(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991.

(3) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991.