Between 2000 and 2007, the volume of household waste per inhabitant remained stable at over 560 kilograms (kg) per year. After 2007, the volume decreased to 495 kg per inhabitant in 2016. Of this waste, 55 percent (273 kg) was collected separately and 45 percent (222 kg) was unsorted waste. Part of the unsorted waste is still separated mechanically after collection.

Between 1970 and 1986, nitrogen and phosphorus surpluses in agriculture increased rapidly due to intensification of livestock farming. These surpluses were reduced after 1986 following a number of legislative measures. The phosphorus surplus has virtually disappeared as a result. The nitrogen surplus was reduced more slowly and even increased again in 2015 and 2016. This was due to higher input of nitrogen from livestock manure and chemical fertilisers, not accompanied by higher output of nitrogen through agricultural crops.

Nitrogen oxide emissions were halved in the period 1990–2016 as vehicles had to meet ever stricter emission standards, but also due to measures taken in the manufacturing and energy sectors. In 2016, emissions declined by 10 million kg relative to 2015. This was largely the result of more stringent emission requirements for passenger cars and heavy goods vehicles. Over two-thirds of nitrogen oxide emissions are related to traffic and transport (including maritime shipping).

In 2016, Dutch companies in the sectors mining and quarrying, manufacturing and public energy and water supply invested 2.1 billion euros in environmental provisions. This is five times the amount in 2013, when 402 billion euros was spent. Environmental investments had not been this high before. Of the total amount in environmental investments in 2016, 95 percent was spent on measures that should lead to improved air quality and a cleaner energy supply. The remainder was distributed to benefit the quality of water, soil and landscape preservation, among other aspects.

The surface water is being polluted by discharges from industry, residual discharges from sewage plants, airborne pollution, and runoff from agricultural land in particular. Sewage treatment lowers the actual amount of surface water pollution considerably. Without sewage treatment, there would be twice as much nitrogen in the surface water, and two-thirds more phosphorus. For heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, this would be 40 percent.

In 2017, Dutch livestock produced 168 million kg of phosphates. This is 5 percent less than in 2016. This is mainly the result of reductions in the dairy herd and the amount of phosphorus in roughage for dairy cattle and pigs. Nearly 60 percent of the Dutch livestock sector’s phosphate production originates from beef cattle manure. Over 20 percent is from pigs, 15 percent from poultry and 5 percent from other livestock. Between 2013 and 2015, phosphate production grew mainly due to an increasing dairy herd.

In 2016, nearly half of industrial waste (14.1 billion kg) consisted of animal and vegetable waste from the food, beverages and tobacco industry. The bulk (95 percent) of manufacturing waste is given a useful purpose such as recycling or incineration with energy recovery. Glass, paper and metal waste are being recycled almost completely.

Based on 27 bird species, the farmland bird indicator shows a 60 to 70 percent decline in the breeding bird population on Dutch farmland since 1960. The number of breeding pairs fell from an estimated 4 million in 1960 to slightly over 1.5 million in 2016. Some species have become practically extinct in large parts of the Netherlands. An estimated 750 thousand to 1.1 million breeding pairs of the skylark population have disappeared since 1960. The grey partridge, European turtle dove, Eurasian tree sparrow (all declined by over 90 percent) and black-tailed godwit (with a decline of over three-quarters) have become a rare sight on farmland. Their decline has levelled off recently but the populations are still far from recovered.

Since 1990, there has been a decline in animal populations inhabiting the open countryside such as heather, dune and extensively managed grassland areas. Over the past decade, the populations of 49 species of mammals, breeding birds, reptiles and butterflies have not changed in size on average. The number of animal species in open nature areas is declining, mainly because of more obstruction by vegetation in nature areas, such as grasses and shrubs. Habitats are lost for species which are tied to early stages of succession or open area, such as the wheatear.

Species inhabiting woodland areas have increased in number again since 1990. Breeding birds which are characteristic for mixed forests, such as the nuthatch and the pied flycatcher, as well as mammals including the common dormouse and the bank vole, have benefited from favourable developments in forests over the past few decades. A number of butterfly species inhabiting forests are also taking advantage, for example the Purple Emperor. Other species such as the White Admiral are doing significantly worse. Dutch forests have aged in recent decades, while forest management has given them a greater variety and a more natural appearance.