Tata Steel can still dispose of steel slag despite a nationwide ban on its use in certain applications, according to company officials. “We can still get rid of production,” said Tata director Van den Berg during a House of Representatives session. He noted that while there is significant inventory on site, it fluctuates with market demand.
Van den Berg explained that a total ban on steel slag has not been declared, allowing for exceptions, particularly for Pelt & Hooykaas, which markets and sells the material. Steel slag can still be used in layers thinner than 50 centimeters. This summer, the House of Representatives passed a motion from the Party for the Animals calling for a total ban on steel slag, a byproduct of steel production that contains heavy metals and quicklime, which can lead to soil contamination and health issues.
Regulatory Context
The Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management stated that a total ban is not legally feasible due to European legislation. Instead, the ministry has introduced an emergency measure that temporarily and partially restricts the use of steel slag in applications with proven issues. In the Netherlands, large accumulations of steel slag have been linked to soil pollution in areas such as Spijk in Gelderland. Local resident Sandor de Kluizenaar of Stichting Natuurlijk Schoon Spijk expressed concern, stating, “We are very worried about that, also about the long-term consequences.” He added that the problem is too large for the municipality to address alone.
Temporary bans are also in place for the use of steel slag in areas where people may come into direct contact with it, such as playgrounds and residential zones, due to health complaints reported in several locations. For decades, steel slag was widely used without adequate oversight, prompting calls for a reporting requirement to track its locations. Ruben Vlaander of Omgevingsdienst NL emphasized the need for better supervision, stating, “For good supervision you have to be able to take off your blindfold.”
Tata Steel plans to enhance communication regarding the risks associated with steel slag through a “risk document,” following a warning from the Inspectorate for the Environment & Transport about potential penalties. This document aims to provide clarity on where steel slag is utilized. Approximately 40 percent of Tata Steel’s annual steel slag production is exported to the Baltic States, where it is also used in civil engineering, according to officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management. Van den Berg noted that he does not have direct insight into whether this leads to environmental issues similar to those in the Netherlands.
Experts have called for stricter regulations regarding steel slag and other building materials. Lawyer Anne de Vries of ChemLegal pointed out that the presence of hazardous substances is not currently tested, and there are no existing rules addressing soil acidity deterioration. These regulatory gaps affect not only steel slag but also other construction materials. De Vries stated, “As soon as you start doing that, hazardous building materials will no longer be on the market.”
State Secretary Thierry Aartsen of Infrastructure & Water Management indicated a commitment to improving regulations for “secondary building materials” like steel slag. This could involve reporting and permit requirements or other measures to promote responsible use. Tata Steel anticipates that steel slag will increasingly be used in concrete, asphalt, or cement in the future, where harmful substances are contained. Van den Berg mentioned that the steel slag produced from new, ‘green’ factory components should also be directed toward safe applications, with research ongoing to ensure this by around 2030. “I have a lot of confidence in that,” he said.
