Dutch government weakens steel slag ban, citing economic and scientific concerns
Dutch State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management Thierry Aartsen (VVD) last month implemented a temporary ban on steel slag to protect human health and the environment, but the measure was significantly weakened from an initially proposed total ban due to economic considerations, NOS Nieuwsuur reports.
Internal ministry documents reportedly show that Aartsen initially pushed for a complete ban on steel slag, a gray, stone-like byproduct of steel production, before reducing it to a limited measure.
Tata Steel produces around 650,000 tons of steel slag annually—roughly 26,000 truckloads—and the material can cause severe environmental contamination if it contacts water.
“I find that we should seriously consider a total ban from a health perspective,” Aartsen wrote to staff a month before the ban was introduced. He described steel slag as “potentially dangerous material” and noted a “perverse incentive because it is very cheap.”
The final regulation allows steel slag to be used in layers up to half a meter, but only with a permit. Officials call it a “ban with limited scope” that reduces negative effects for companies compared with a full prohibition. The Tweede Kamer had earlier urged a total ban under the precautionary principle to prevent risks to human health and the environment.
“The suppliers of the material do not lose their entire market,” ministry officials wrote to Aartsen, who ultimately described the limited ban as “a proper balance.” The temporary measure will remain in effect for one year and may be extended by six months while structural solutions are developed.
The ministry defended the limited ban as a “factually and scientifically substantiated measure,” citing ten reports it said show layers under half a meter are safe. Experts, however, dispute that conclusion.
“In the material, no scientific justification for those layer thicknesses has been demonstrated. I cannot infer that from the submitted material,” Annemarie van Wezel, professor of environmental quality and health at Utrecht University, told NOS.
Hans van der Sloot, an environmental chemist and steel slag expert, said, “My 2007 research shows that applications under half a meter can still be harmful to the environment. The current limited ban can lead to unacceptable environmental contamination.”
Internal documents obtained by NOS indicate economic factors influenced the decision. A total ban would have had “(major) adverse consequences” for Tata Steel and supplier Pelt & Hooykaas, the ministry noted. Steel slag production is inseparable from steelmaking and cannot be stopped. The ministry also considered that Tata Steel might challenge a total ban in court or seek compensation. Other potential impacts on Tata Steel and Pelt & Hooykaas were redacted, citing “the interest of the state.”
The ministry initially submitted the total ban proposal to the Regulatory Burden Assessment Committee (ATR), which requested stronger justification on how it would align with existing or planned rules.
That detailed justification reportedly never appeared, prompting the ministry to adopt the limited ban. The permit requirement was not submitted to the ATR, leading the committee to issue an unsolicited advisory, stating it is poorly substantiated and could increase regulatory burden and costs.
