The public prosecution department has said Tata Steel in IJmuiden should be fined €100,000 for five different infringements of environmental rules between 2018 and 2021.

In two cases, the company discharged ‘graphite dust’ into the atmosphere, which led in one instance to black snow falling in the surrounding area.

In one case the company dumped waste into the water supply and in two others, experiments with cooling coal waste with water broke environmental guidelines, the public prosecutor said.

‘Everything that happens in or around the Tata Steel factories has a major social impact and emotions can run high,’ the department said in a statement. This is because of the company’s economic and social impact in the locality, as well as changing ideas on the environment, the prosecutor said.

Judges will give their verdict in January.

Health hazard

In January this year, public health institute RIVM said the Tata steelworks is the main source of metal and polycarbon-based pollutants in the IJmond region, and figures collected by the regional health board show the pollution is more serious than the company’s own records would indicate.

In September 2021, MPs called for tougher environmental standards for the Tata steelworks, suggesting closing the most polluting operations and even mooting partial nationalisation.

The five cases heard on Thursday are unconnected with another court case facing Tata Steel, brought by a number of locals.