40. Wittelsheim, France - EUROPE

Potash-salt mine in Wittelsheim was opened in February 1999 as the first underground landfill in France. The licensed capacity of the mine was 320,000 tons (for 30 years). Wastes deposited included galvanising sludge, spent catalysts and residues from waste incineration. In September 2002 an underground fire broke out and as a consequence of this the landfill and the adjacent mine were closed.

Source categories of waste contamination by POPs:

  Waste Incineration
  Landfilling/dumping/open burning of wastes
  Metallurgical industry

Data about POPs levels in different environment compartments:

  Waste residue

POPs - Persistent Organic Pollutants:

  Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (dioxins)
  Polychlorinated Biphenyls
  Hexachlorobenzene