Human waste from major festivals dumped illegally in Wintelre, company denies wrongdoing
Tankers carrying millions of liters of human waste and wastewater from major Dutch and Belgian festivals, including Paaspop, Intents Festival, Concert at Sea, Zwarte Cross, and Graspop, were allegedly discharged illegally at a site in Wintelre, documents from the municipality of Eersel show, according to Omroep Brabant.
The container used for disposal was allegedly connected via a pipe to an unauthorized sewage connection, allowing untreated wastewater and pig manure to enter the local sewer system.
Waste from these events often includes human feces, sunglasses, clothing, and drug packets. Dumping it illegally not only bypasses taxes but also undermines competitors who dispose of waste legally.
Municipal reports indicate that in 2023, nearly nine million liters—equivalent to more than three Olympic swimming pools—were dumped at the site without permission. The municipality subsequently removed the container.
Local officials said the buildup of animal waste and other debris caused repeated sewage problems, creating significant odor and public nuisance in the area.
One resident wrote in November 2023, “We have been dealing with sewer stench for years. This is caused by trucks being emptied almost daily just a few houses away. We have reported this multiple times, but Mr. Daas is not concerned.”
The company involved, run by Daas in Wintelre, denies any wrongdoing. Daas told reporters, “Manure is disposed of according to manure legislation, all discharges are registered, reported, and a fee for disposal is paid according to agreements.” He added in a separate phone call, “I’m not worried. We have paid taxes and handled everything properly. This is just not true.”
Daas’s company has a history of environmental violations. Earlier this year, 180,000 liters of wastewater leaked from a manure bag on his property in Eindhoven, killing trees and crops. The company has also been convicted in the past for manure fraud and document falsification.
Authorities are investigating whether economic crimes were committed, but the OM declined to confirm or deny if Daas is under formal investigation or if any prosecution will follow.
It is unclear whether employees of Volume Rental, the company collecting the waste from events and delivering it to Wintelre, were aware of the illegal disposal. Volume Rental did not respond to Omroep Brabant's requests for comment.
The municipality of Eersel acknowledged past sewer blockages but said it could not definitively link them to Daas’s operations.
