Video: Europe's landfill crisis uncovered
3 December 2025Across Europe, thousands of potentially toxic landfill sites hide in plain sight. But simply overlooking them doesn’t make the danger they pose to the environment, and eventually, to human health disappear. On the ground, Investigate Europe reporters witnessed firsthand the effects of this crisis.
This investigation is a first-of-its-kind analysis by Investigate Europe and Watershed Investigations, revealing how thousands of European landfill sites sit in flood-prone areas, near drinking-water sources, or in sensitive conservation sites. Many of these sites could already be leaking hazardous pollutants into their surroundings.
In total, we pinpointed the locations of more than 60,000 landfills across Europe. Many are likely to be historic, pre-dating the EU’s 1999 Landfills Directive, meaning they could lack pollution control measures, such as the use of protective lining to prevent leakages of harmful waste.
On the ground, our reporters witnessed the real cost of this environmental crisis. They met local communities in France living near these sites, took samples of toxic leachates in Greece and visited a beach str with bottles and plastic in the UK.
Watch our video above to find out more and discover our Toxic Ground investigation.
In total, we pinpointed the locations of more than 60,000 landfills across Europe. Many are likely to be historic, pre-dating the EU’s 1999 Landfills Directive, meaning they could lack pollution control measures, such as the use of protective lining to prevent leakages of harmful waste.
On the ground, our reporters witnessed the real cost of this environmental crisis. They met local communities in France living near these sites, took samples of toxic leachates in Greece and visited a beach str with bottles and plastic in the UK.
Watch our video above to find out more and discover our Toxic Ground investigation.
Scriptwriting, production and editing: Marta Portocarrero
Journalists: Juliet Ferguson, Eurydice Bersi, Leïla Miñano
Filming: Nick Paleologos, Marine Courtade
Editorial Director: Mei-Ling McNamara
Journalists: Juliet Ferguson, Eurydice Bersi, Leïla Miñano
Filming: Nick Paleologos, Marine Courtade
Editorial Director: Mei-Ling McNamara
Toxic Ground is an investigation led and coordinated by Investigate Europe and Watershed Investigations. It is being published with media partners around Europe including Arte, Altreconomia, EU Observer, the Guardian, InfoLibre, ITV News, The Journal Investigates, Reporterre, Reporters United and Visão.
Journalismfund Europe provided funding support for the investigation.
Journalismfund Europe provided funding support for the investigation.