Soil pollution occurs when humans introduce harmful objects, chemicals, or substances into the soil, either directly or indirectly, in a way that harms other living creatures or devastates soil and water ecosystems. Soil pollutants encompass a wide range of contaminants (organic and inorganic) that may be found naturally in soil as well as man-made. Human activities are the primary sources of soil contamination in both scenarios. Remediating contaminated land is difficult and expensive, but necessary to clean up past pollution. However, local authorities often lack the means and tools to manage remediation. More than 65 000 sites have been remediated in the EU; however, by far, most potentially contaminated sites are still left untouched. In the long run, prevention remains the most efficient and cost-effective strategy to guarantee healthy soils — and cleaner water and air. Any initiative aimed at preventing and reducing pollution — from better product design to better recycling, waste management, crop rotation, precision farming, and reduced pesticide and fertilizer use to cleaner transportation and industry — as well as supporting governments to put in place effective measures, will help to relieve pressure on these vital ecosystems. The circular economy, the farm to fork strategy, the biodiversity strategy, the chemicals strategy, the new soil strategy, and the zero pollution action plan are just a few of the existing and upcoming policy initiatives under the European Green Deal that provide a European framework and support national authorities and land users in protecting land and soils from pollution. Additional funding for local governments and a more consistent EU soil policy framework would bolster these initiatives. After all, pollution is merely one of several hazards to soils and the environment.
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