Cleanup of massive waste piles in Jämsä begins after years of delays

The long-delayed removal of thousands of tons of waste from the former Kaipola industrial site in Jämsä, central Finland, will start this week, according to property company Kaipola Green Port.

The waste—primarily plastic and ash—has sat exposed for over two and a half years, far exceeding the cleanup timeline the company agreed to in autumn 2025. Under that plan, half the waste should have been cleared by last Christmas, with the remainder removed by April 2026. No progress reports were submitted to the Finnish Permit and Supervision Authority (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto), which has yet to receive any documentation.

Martti Inkovaara, chair of Green Port’s board, acknowledged the missed deadlines. “Nothing was reported because there was nothing to report,” he said. The company has now contracted an unnamed partner to transport the waste to incineration plants, starting with small daily shipments of around 1,000 tons—just a fraction of the estimated 40,000+ tons remaining.

The first loads will consist of processed waste-derived fuel (REF), including sorted and crushed plastic and construction debris. Inkovaara declined to name the transport partner or specify which incinerators would receive the waste, citing commercial confidentiality.

Authorities remain skeptical. Sohvi Hälikkä, head of the circular economy unit at the Permit and Supervision Authority, called the delays “disappointing” and warned that administrative penalties, likely fines, would follow if the pace proves insufficient. The agency has demanded a new status report from Green Port within two weeks.

Inkovaara insisted the cleanup would proceed, arguing fines would only divert funds from the effort. “We’d rather spend the money on clearing the waste,” he said.

The waste originated from Kaipola Recycling, a bankrupt former tenant of Green Port. The bankruptcy estate estimated cleanup costs at €4–5 million, though the final bill remains uncertain. Green Port has applied for environmental permits to repurpose the ash for local earthworks, which could reduce expenses.

Despite past claims of insufficient funds, Green Port reported a €1.3 million operating profit for the fiscal year ending September 2025. Inkovaara attributed the turnaround to external investors and shareholder contributions but noted the company still carries significant debt and negative equity.

Authorities had previously avoided enforcement, fearing it could push Green Port into bankruptcy. Hälikkä emphasized the goal remains a solvent cleanup, not financial penalties. “It’s in their business interest to clear the site and make room for new tenants,” she said.