Mayor Kummola advocates relocation of waste facility in Tampere due to ongoing fire concerns

The mayor of Tampere, Kalervo Kummola, is advocating for the relocation of a waste facility that has been ablaze for several days. He expressed that the city’s position is clear: the facility cannot continue operating in its current location in Rusko. Kummola noted that the city has not yet made an official statement as they were waiting for the fire to be extinguished.

He mentioned recent discussions with Niko Mokkilä, CEO of Hartwall Capital, the firm’s owner, about finding a new site for the waste facility, ideally away from residential areas. A significant fire erupted last Tuesday at the Remeo waste management plant’s energy waste pile, releasing hazardous smoke into the environment for days before a safety alert was lifted on Saturday.

During a city council meeting, Kummola acknowledged the community’s concerns regarding the facility’s proximity to housing. He indicated that he intended to engage with Remeo’s management about potential new locations for the site. The former mayor of Tampere had previously raised concerns during the meeting about the waste facility’s placement amidst populated areas.

While the council was discussing the upcoming year’s budget, the fate of the waste facility was not officially on the agenda. Remeo’s CEO refrained from commenting on Kummola’s statements until he had an opportunity to confer with the mayor himself.

As the local fire department continues to manage the aftermath of the blaze, they expect to remain on-site to ensure that the situation does not reignite, with transport of burned waste expected to take around a week.