In December 2024, the Greenpeace Investigative team uncovered the largest landfill scandal in Austria’s recent waste history. The waste company Zöchling Abfall Verwertung GmbH illegally deposited waste at the St.Pölten landfill and bulky waste. Greenpeace has therefore evaluated historical air and satellite images, from 2007-2024, the landfill at the brick oven- the results are shocking. Greenpeace has identified four new suspicion areas for incorrect landfilling and is now asking the authorities to expand the already very large search radius of 20,000 square meters by about twice. The search depth must also be adjusted. This is currently ten meters. Greenpeace also demands that archaeological soil exploration methods such as soil radar examine the landfill. Such measurements are carried out by Geosphere Austria (formerly ZAMG).
Stefan Stadler, spokesman for the investigative team at Greenpeace in Austria: “The recordings from the air provide evidence that the incorrect landfill has been declining significantly longer and has a significantly greater extent than previously assumed”. Stadler on: “Apparently a system was established that was specifically dealing with regulations and gave profits in the millions. Everything at the expense of man and nature.”
Immediately after privatization in April 2019, the large -scale conversion of the entire landfill began. Tens of thousands of tons of landfill material were dug up and excavated and shipped. There is a suspicion that this material has not been shifted in accordance with the law, such as a less protected rubble landing.
The introduction of untreated residual and bulky waste into the landfill has apparently been carried out since 2021. The landfill was literally showered with waste and the mountain from crap grew very strongly within a short time. This is extremely unusual, because in the decades under public use, only minimal earth movements were visible and the electricity of material that is subject to deposit was relatively constant.
The landfill has been closed officially since December 2024. The trigger was an unannounced control due to indications of Greenpeace.
“It is deeply alarming that systematic incorrect landfill is apparently possible for years without noticing the official control organs. ÖVP state captain Mikl-Leitner urgently has to intervene and provide information as quickly as possible ”Finally, Stadler demands.
The Factsheet Find at: https://act.gp/FactsheetMülldeponie
Evaluation of air and satellite images Find at: https://act.gp/Auswertung
Images Find at: https://act.gp/Fotos
The photos are available free of charge for editorial use, stating the credits © (name in the image title) / Greenpeace.
Stefan Stadler
Speaker Investigative team
Greenpeace in Austria
Tel.: +43 (0)664 183 2882
E-mail: stefan.stadler@greenpeace.org
OTS original text press release with the exclusive in terms of content of the sender – www.ots.at | Grp