Press Release: Environment: Italy faces Court for failing to implement EU law on waste

The European Commission is referring Italy to the European Court of Justice for failing to implement a Court ruling from 2004 concerning landfills near Milan. The landfills in question are known to contain some hazardous waste, and are a threat to local water and air. Six years after the Court ruling, one landfill has been removed, but two others concerned by the ruling have not yet been cleaned up. On the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, the Commission is taking Italy back to Court and asking for fines to be imposed.