Polluted soil to be removed in Finnish residential area built on old landfill site
A peculiar dispute about houses built on top of an old landfill in Varkaus, Finland has taken a new turn. The polluted soil in the residential area of Savonmäki will be removed after all. The plots in question were zoned on the location of a former unauthorized landfill, which also received industrial waste before it became a dumping ground.
Juhani Helle, who bought a house in Savonmäki in 1986, noticed the waste in the soil while repairing the house’s oil tank about 20 years ago. This discovery marked the beginning of years of communication with various authorities about the true state of the plot and who is responsible for it.
The soil in the area contains substances harmful to health and the environment, such as copper, lead, and zinc. Additionally, PAH compounds and cyanide have been found in smaller areas. These substances may pose a health risk if they enter the body through eating the soil or food crops.
According to a new directive, residents of the plots should be able to grow edible plants, fruit trees, and berry bushes. Previously, residents were advised that cultivating food plants in the area was not safe for health. This change is due to a new directive from the Pirkanmaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY), which states that there must be at least half a meter of clean soil on the plot. Previously, ten centimeters of clean soil was considered sufficient.
The decision to clean the soil means that the polluted soil will be removed by an excavator and replaced with soil that does not pose health risks to residents. About a meter of soil will be removed.
However, Juhani Helle believes that the polluted soil should also be removed from under the buildings. According to Mika Heinonen, group manager at Pirkanmaa ELY, it is often challenging to determine who is responsible.
In Savonmäki, the unauthorized landfill operation ended in the 1960s. After that, Ahlström Oy, the former owner of Varkaus factories, built homes for its employees in the area. The then Varkaus commercial district zoned the area.
The cleanup of the polluted soil in Savonmäki will be funded by the state. The decision will be made by the Pirkanmaa ELY during the coming autumn. At present, they are waiting for the area’s residents to indicate whether they agree to the soil cleanup. Approximately €600,000 has been allocated for the project, plus value-added tax. The Northern Savo ELY still has to approve the Pirkanmaa ELY’s announcement of the soil cleanup. After that, a contractor will be tendered. Heinonen estimates that this will take until the end of 2025.