Human waste from festivals “dumped” by manure processor

Millions of litres of human waste from major music festivals has been allegedly dumped illegally on the site of a pig farm and manure processor in the Brabant village of Wintelre, according to documents obtained by regional broadcaster Omroep Brabant.

The waste was discharged on land belonging to manure processor and pig farm Daas in 2023, the broadcaster said after examining files from several authorities obtained under freedom of information rules.

The public prosecution service has launched a criminal investigation into the businessman behind the operation, Omroep Brabant said, although a spokesperson for the public prosecution department declined to confirm or deny this.

According to the documents, tanker trucks carrying waste water and human excrement from large festivals emptied their loads into a container on the site. From there, the waste was allegedly discharged into the sewer system via an illegal connection.

The same set-up was also used to dump pig manure, a report drawn up by the local authority shows.

The municipality of Eersel, which includes Wintelre, found that almost nine million litres of waste water were discharged at the site in 2023 without permission. The local authority later intervened and had the container removed following complaints from locals about blockages and smell.

The company owner has denied that any illegal dumping took place, telling Omroep Brabant that manure was disposed of in line with environmental regulations and that all discharges were registered and reported, with fees paid as agreed.

An intermediary company and the festivals involved did initially respond to requests for comment but Paaspop said later that its waste was disposed of legally and had not been dumped.

The manure processor has previously been fined for environmental violations. Last summer, about 180,000 litres of waste water leaked into the ground in Eindhoven from a manure storage site belonging to the company. In 2019, the owner was convicted of breaching fertiliser regulations and forgery.