Toxic Ground
A groundbreaking mapping project revealing a cocktail of environmental risks posed by thousands of Europe's landfills.
December 2025
Out of sight, out of mind: Europe is dotted with hundreds of thousands of disused landfill sites. But forgetting about them doesn’t stop them posing a risk to the environment and ultimately, human health. From the ‘forever chemicals’ seeping out of a former landfill in Greece’s tourist-friendly Taygetos Mountains to the landfill debris crumbling from parts of Britain’s coastlines, the investigation represents a first-of-its-kind study into the state of Europe’s waste sites.
Could you live within kilometres of an abandoned landfill site leaking harmful substances into the ecosystems and waterways nearby? For many Europeans, this is not just a theoretical question but a distinct possibility.
Toxic Ground is a first-of-its-kind analysis by Investigate Europe and Watershed Investigations, exposing how thousands of Europe’s landfills are located in flood-risk zones, areas used for drinking water, or in sensitive conservation sites. Many could be releasing toxic waste into the environment around them.
Could you live within kilometres of an abandoned landfill site leaking harmful substances into the ecosystems and waterways nearby? For many Europeans, this is not just a theoretical question but a distinct possibility.
Toxic Ground is a first-of-its-kind analysis by Investigate Europe and Watershed Investigations, exposing how thousands of Europe’s landfills are located in flood-risk zones, areas used for drinking water, or in sensitive conservation sites. Many could be releasing toxic waste into the environment around them.
Investigate Europe and Watershed Investigations pinpinted the location of more than 60,000 sites around Europe.Credit: Georgina Choleva/Spoovio
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.
Almost 30 per cent were found in areas with a significant risk of flooding, raising the possibility of harmful chemicals and materials polluting water systems and land. Around 10,000 were identified in drinking water zones across France, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. More than 3000 sites were located in protected conservation areas.
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Reporters: Leana Hosea, Juliet Ferguson, Eurydice Bersi, Lorenzo Buzzoni, Pascal Hansens, Ella Joyner, Leïla Miñano, Conor O’Carroll and Rachel Salvidge.
Coordination: Juliet Ferguson and Chris Matthews
Editing: Chris Matthews and Mei-Ling McNamara
Illustrations: Georgina Choleva/Spoovio
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.eu provided funding support for the investigation.
Almost 30 per cent were found in areas with a significant risk of flooding, raising the possibility of harmful chemicals and materials polluting water systems and land. Around 10,000 were identified in drinking water zones across France, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. More than 3000 sites were located in protected conservation areas.
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Reporters: Leana Hosea, Juliet Ferguson, Eurydice Bersi, Lorenzo Buzzoni, Pascal Hansens, Ella Joyner, Leïla Miñano, Conor O’Carroll and Rachel Salvidge.
Coordination: Juliet Ferguson and Chris Matthews
Editing: Chris Matthews and Mei-Ling McNamara
Illustrations: Georgina Choleva/Spoovio
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.eu provided funding support for the investigation.
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Publications
UK and Europe’s hidden landfills at risk of leaking toxic waste into water supplies
The Guardian, UK
2 December 2025
Potential leaks from thousands of landfills threaten Europe’s water and wildlife
ITV News, UK
2 December 2025
Europe’s landfill crisis exposed: new map reveals toxic cocktail of environmental risks
EUobserver, Belgium
2 December 2025
Hundreds of old landfills left in limbo despite risk of leaking toxic waste into waterways
The Journal, Ireland
2 December 2025
En zones inondables, des milliers de décharges oubliées refont surface
Reporterre, France
2 December 2025
El mapa de la basura de Europa: miles de vertederos amenazan el agua, los suelos y la salud pública
infoLibre, Spain
2 December 2025