In The Netherlands, a small and densely populated country, the disposal of
solid waste requires strict precautions. Because the landscape is flat and
the watertable just under groundlevel, landfilling and dumping must be
avoided as much as possible. Incineration of municipal and industrial
waste are presently under consideration. But even when excellent flue gas
cleaning systems are used, air pollution can present a problem, for instance,
by dioxines produced during the process. For these reasons the
government has published a waste disposal policy plan in which recycling,
composting and prevention of waste production play a major role. Eventually
about one third of the solid waste production will be incinerated or
dumped. No solid waste will be exported.