Brussels, 03/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has approved the tax exemption scheme set in place by the Netherlands regarding dredging sludge from public or private inland navigation waterways. After examination, the Commission considered the measure was not State aid, as it does not grant selective advantages to companies and is not in line with the logic and the nature of the Dutch taxation system applicable to waste. The tax levied by the Netherlands on waste for dumping is aimed at reducing the volume of waste. Dredging sludge cannot meet this objective in so far as it is different from other kinds of waste. The Netherlands' specific aim is, on the contrary, to develop dredging in order to improve navigable waterways. Given that the pollution of navigable waterways comes about over a long period of time and from various sources over which the authorities have no control (organic matter from the Rhine, Meuse and Escaut), a tax on mud stocked in dumps would have no effect on the production of waste and could even mean that polluted waste is kept at sites where it is deposited.