rssSep 17, 2026, 04:00

Schiphol begins cleaning 200,000 tons of contaminated soil in PFAS 'car wash'

Schiphol Airport has launched an on-site soil cleaning facility to treat 200,000 tons of earth contaminated with PFAS from historical firefighting foam. The installation washes the soil to extract pollutants, allowing for the potential reuse of most of the treated material in future construction projects.

Schiphol Airport has officially begun operations at its new on-site soil cleaning facility, aimed at treating 200,000 tons of earth contaminated with PFAS. The contamination stems from historical use of firefighting foam during training exercises and past incidents. This installation, located on the airport's northern grounds near Badhoevedorp, utilizes a water-based washing process to remove and isolate the hazardous substances. The airport expects that approximately 160,000 tons of the treated soil can be safely reused for future construction projects, while the remaining residue will be processed by external specialists.

The project follows years of environmental concerns and protests from local residents regarding the long-term storage of polluted soil. While some community leaders have expressed optimism regarding the independent monitoring of the site, others remain cautious about potential health risks and the proximity of the facility to residential areas. Airport officials and independent experts maintain that the cleaning process is controlled and that risks associated with the dispersion of contaminants are being actively mitigated through strict operational protocols.

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Based on reporting by rss. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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