Up to 3,000 ‘peak polluters’ given last chance to close by Dutch government

State attempts to push through plans to shut hundreds of factory farms to cut nitrogen oxide emissions

The Dutch government is offering to buy out up to 3,000 peak polluter" farms and major industrial polluters in an attempt to reduce ammonia and nitrogen oxide emissions that are illegal under EU law.

The nitrogen minister, Christianne van der Wal, said farmers would be offered more than 100% of the value of their farms to quit. For the first time, the government has said that forced buyouts will follow next year if the voluntary measures fail.