
A landfill site in the Lower Austrian capital of St. Pölten has been temporarily closed following concerns over possible illegal waste dumping.
The closure followed an unannounced inspection on Thursday, which uncovered “material that does not meet the requirements for landfill disposal,” according to Lower Austria’s Environmental and Facility Law Department.
Officials have said that there is no immediate risk to groundwater, but further investigations are underway to fully assess the situation.
Investigation sparked by reports
The investigation was triggered by reports and photographic evidence suggesting improper waste disposal at the site. Early on Thursday, operations at the landfill were halted for inspections, including trial excavations and interviews with those involved.
A spokesperson said: “The landfill and storage facility will remain closed until comprehensive investigations are completed across the entire area.” While the scale of the illegal dumping is not yet clear, officials believe it could involve a significant amount of waste.
Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler commented: “Following indications of possible illegal disposal of household waste at the landfill, we immediately called on the relevant authorities in Lower Austria to carry out a thorough inspection to fully clarify the situation. Such environmental violations cannot be tolerated.”
Greenpeace raises concerns
Environmental group Greenpeace claimed its investigative work played a key role in uncovering the alleged misconduct. A spokesperson for the group said: “Since October, our investigative team has repeatedly documented untreated household and commercial residual waste being buried at the landfill.”
Greenpeace has called for not only the temporary closure of the landfill but also the excavation of improperly buried waste and its proper disposal. The group described the situation as “scandalous and unprecedented” and urged immediate action from authorities.
Greenpeace also highlighted the scale of the alleged dumping, estimating that over 15,000 square metres of the site had been used to bury several thousand tonnes of waste within just a few weeks. “The proportion of untreated residual waste must now be clarified by the authorities,” the organisation added.