Commission refers Romania to the Court of Justice of the EU over illegal landfills

On 15 February 2017 the European Commission released a Press Release concerning Romania being taken to the Court of Justice of the EU for its failure to close and rehabilitate 68 illegal landfills, which represent a serious risk for human health and the environment.

Despite earlier warnings from the Commission, Romania failed to take measures against 68 non-compliant landfills, as required by EU Landfill Directive (Council Directive 1999/31/EC). Under the Directive, Member States must recover and dispose of waste in a manner that does not endanger human health and the environment, prohibiting the abandonment, dumping or uncontrolled disposal of waste. Romania was obliged to close and rehabilitate these substandard municipal and industrial landfills by 16 July 2009.

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/17/234, 15.02.17: February infringements package: key decisions http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-234_en.htm

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