In a new publication by Zero Waste Europe, recent research from the ToxicoWatch Foundation has linked waste incinerators in Europe to serious environmental contamination from PFAS and other toxins in parts of Spain, France, and the Netherlands.
Table of Contents
Toxic Chemicals Found Near Waste-to-Energy Plants
The studies, conducted around Waste-to-Energy (WtE) facilities in Zubieta (Spain), Harlingen (The Netherlands), and Paris (France), revealed high concentrations of hazardous substances such as dioxins, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and heavy metals. These pollutants were detected in soil, vegetation, water, and even in food items like backyard chicken eggs, raising public health concerns.
All three locations showed contamination levels that surpass legal safety thresholds, with particularly troubling data from areas near schools and homes. In Paris, for instance, one contaminated site was a school playground in the Ivry-sur-Seine area, and even samples from the centrally located Jardin des Plantes Park showed elevated levels of dioxins.
Record-Setting Dioxin Levels in Spain
In Zubieta, located in the Basque Country of Spain, dioxin concentrations in a sample of backyard eggs reached over ten times the European Union’s legal limit. This measurement stands as the highest recorded by the ToxicoWatch Foundation in Europe over the last 13 years. Additional tests revealed that moss in the region showed contamination up to 300 times higher than baseline levels recorded before the incinerator began operations in 2020. PFAS and heavy metals like lead and mercury were also detected in surrounding water and soil.
Alarming Pollution in the Netherlands
Additionally, the findings in Harlingen, the Netherlands, mirrored those in Spain. Despite the absence of any nearby fluorochemical industry, PFAS concentrations in eggs were comparable to levels found near major industrial sites. A water sample taken near the facility measured PFAS at 138 times above the Dutch legal limit for drinking water. Soil dioxin levels have increased significantly since 2013, and moss samples contained heavy metals in amounts that present known health hazards.
Urban Exposure in Paris
In France, soil and moss near public areas in Paris — particularly in Ivry-sur-Seine — showed dioxin contamination beyond EU safety limits. This urban exposure poses a heightened risk to vulnerable populations, including children. The country’s national health agency has acknowledged the pollution problem, confirming that eggs produced in affected backyards are unsafe to eat due to dioxins and PFAS levels.
Call for Systemic Change
Environmental organizations are calling for immediate policy responses. Proposals include the mandatory implementation of real-time monitoring for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) emitted by WtE facilities, especially during irregular operations, which are often sources of emission spikes. Regular biomonitoring near incinerators is also urged, particularly in zones where food is produced or where sensitive populations live.
The data supports broader advocacy efforts to move away from incineration-based waste systems and toward zero-waste models that don’t rely on combustion, which continues to produce toxic residues even under normal operating conditions.
Conclusion
The findings of the research challenge the perception that waste incineration is a clean or safe method of disposal. Evidence from Spain, France, and the Netherlands highlights the environmental and health risks linked to incinerator emissions, both in rural and urban settings. With contaminants detected in food, water, and public spaces, the case for stricter measured and a shift toward non-burn alternatives grows stronger.
