Investigation finds no proof of illegal dumping at Nordic Waste

A long-awaited legal investigation into the 2023 landslide at Nordic Waste near Randers has found no evidence to support claims that the company systematically accepted highly contaminated soil beyond its permitted capacity, according to a report commissioned by local politicians and published by DR.

The probe was triggered by an anonymous source within the waste industry who alleged, under promise of confidentiality, that Nordic Waste had received soil more polluted than allowed and in volumes exceeding its capacity. Law firm Elmann interviewed multiple sources, requested public records from several municipalities and authorities, and reviewed data from the company itself but could not substantiate the claims.

“The suspicion of systematic direct disposal of highly contaminated soil at the site cannot be supported,” the report states.

However, the investigation did find that Nordic Waste had breached its environmental permit in several instances, including the presence of contaminated soil in a noise barrier and a pile of oil-contaminated soil from a former Copenhagen fuel depot. The report urges Randers Municipality to address the oil-contaminated soil.

Anker Boje, a council member for Borgerlisten Østbroen, said the findings appeared less severe than feared. “It doesn’t look as bad as we thought. Fortunately,” he told DR.

The former management of Nordic Waste stated the conclusions were as expected, adding they had no further comment.

The report follows earlier investigations by Randers Municipality, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the city council, which had criticised the municipality for inadequate oversight of Nordic Waste prior to the December 2023 landslide. A separate municipal report had assigned responsibility for the landslide to Nordic Waste, a claim the company has disputed.

Local politicians are set to discuss the findings at a council meeting on Monday. DR is awaiting comment from Randers mayor Rosa Lykke Yde (SF).