Hazardous Waste Dumping in the North Sea - 2020s

Hazardous Waste Dumping in the North Sea - 2020s

In 1995, the North Sea Protection Conference agreed to a total ban on hazardous waste dumping in the North Sea by 2020. Based on this agreement, the North Sea littoral states have been working to strengthen waste management and environmental protection.

Current Status and Progress

Since the beginning of the 2020s, hazardous waste dumping into the North Sea has been significantly reduced. In particular, dumping of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, as well as hazardous substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins, is approaching zero. This is the result of countries' efforts to improve waste treatment facilities and introduce recycling technologies.

Specific Efforts

- Germany: Major chemical companies such as Bayer AG and BASF have invested heavily in waste recycling and detoxification to reduce their environmental impact.
- France: The government has invested 500 million euros (about 65 billion yen) in modernizing waste treatment facilities to promote the proper disposal of waste.
- Norway: The government invests 10 million euros (about 1.3 billion yen) per year in research and development of waste treatment technology, aiming for zero dumping at sea.

Challenges and Future Prospects

On the other hand, the United Kingdom had a history of not signing the 1995 agreement, and some waste dumping continued until the early 2020s. However, international pressure and heightened environmental awareness are now driving a policy shift toward a complete cessation of waste dumping.

Overall, water quality in the North Sea is improving and ecological recovery has been reported. It is hoped that cooperation among countries and responsible corporate behavior will continue, and that sustainable environmental protection efforts will continue.