Need for an EU regulation setting a mandatory minimum distance between asbestos landfill sites and population centres
12.11.2025
Question for written answer E-004494/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Paolo Borchia (PfE)
Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste lays down general principles concerning the location of waste disposal facilities, and requires the selection procedure for these sites to take their distance from residential, recreational, health and sensitive areas into account. However, EU law does not set a mandatory minimum distance in kilometres between landfill sites accepting waste containing asbestos on the one hand and population centres and sensitive premises (schools, hospitals and care homes) on the other.
The result is that this figure varies significantly among EU regions: while some have laid down specific requirements (examples include buffer zones measuring 1 000-1 500 m), others don’t provide for a minimum safety distance at all, a disparity in environmental protection that could have repercussions for public health.
In the light of the above:
- 1.Does the Commission agree that it should draft a proposal for a harmonisation regulation or directive setting a mandatory, EU-wide, minimum safety distance of 1 000 metres?
- 2.Will it initiate an assessment on the health and environmental impact that asbestos fibres from landfill sites are having on population centres?
- 3.How will the Commission ensure that all EU citizens are afforded the same protection from threats arising from the management of waste containing asbestos?
Submitted: 12.11.2025