The village of Ølst in central Jutland faces an unprecedented threat following a landslide of contaminated waste from the nearby soil treatment plant ‘Nordic Waste’. The incident, which experts suggest could have been predicted since 2021, has left residents grappling with uncertainty over the long-term consequences. Nordic Waste, specializing in cleaning contaminated soil, attributed the landslide to heavy rainfall after Denmark’s wettest year on record. The waste primarily originates from Denmark’s mink farms and some imported waste from Norway, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. The situation rapidly worsened, leading to the collapse of Nordic Waste’s buildings and the closure of surrounding roads. The municipality of Randers intervened to contain the situation, focusing on protecting the local river and preventing further damage to Ølst. Despite ongoing efforts, the cleanup remains a contentious issue, with Nordic Waste facing scrutiny for the disaster, and Randers municipality unwilling to bear the financial burden. While daily soil and water samples show no signs of pollution, the area resembles a construction site, with unresolved questions about accountability and future remediation efforts lingering over Ølst’s residents.
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