Report environmental pollution
What is it?
Everyone must comply with environmental regulations. The municipality, police, and other organizations monitor this.
If you see a person or company polluting the environment in your area, you can report this to Milieuklacht Gelderland(Gelderland Environmental Complaints) .
How does it work?
You can report:
- air pollution
- soil contamination
- odour or noise pollution
But also, for example, if someone illegally dumps waste.
Regulators
The municipality must protect the environment within its territory. To this end, the municipality has supervisors. These supervisors:
- make sure everyone follows the rules
- provide information
- may enter businesses and other places (except homes)
- may view documents and make copies
- take samples and examine items
- stop and inspect vehicles
- request information
For questions about Milieuklacht Gelderland and reports, please contact the Rivierenland Environmental Service at .
Everyone must cooperate fully with the supervisory authority. A supervisory authority may request assistance from the police.
Other organizations
Other organizations that monitor compliance with environmental regulations include the police, the provincial government, Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management), the water board, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority(NVWA), and the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate.
What should I do?
You contact Milieuklacht Gelderland (Gelderland Environmental Complaints). The report is then forwarded to the responsible government agency.
Report environmental pollution
You can also call 026 3771 800 to report an environmental complaint or unusual incident.
Additional information
What else can the municipality do?
The supervisor first attempts to reach an agreement with the offender who is violating the rules. If that fails, the municipality can take a number of measures:
- revoke the environmental permit or exemption in whole or in part
- rectify the undesirable situation
- close the company entirely or partially
- impose a fine.
The municipality can also take criminal action, just like the police. The municipality does this in collaboration with the Public Prosecution Service (OM). For example:
- draw up an official report
- issue a warning
- reach an agreement whereby the perpetrator pays
- seize something
- prosecution and sentencing to a fine or imprisonment
Compensation
- You can claim compensation from the person responsible for the damage you have suffered.
- If you cannot reach an agreement, you can file a claim for damages with the court.