Cleanup of rotting slaughterhouse waste begins in Närpiö

Cleanup operations are set to begin at the site of the bankrupt animal feed company Nä-Rö in Närpiö’s Norrnäs area, Yle reports. Nearly two million kilograms of rotting slaughterhouse waste and feed mass remain at the site.

The remediation project, estimated to cost around €1.06 million, may take up to three months to complete. Contractors were selected on Friday by the West Coast Environmental Unit, which oversees the work.

Veikko Lehti Oy, NGR Group Ab, and NG Nordic Finland Oy will handle the waste, while Lindemans Infra Ab will manage demolition, excavation, and loading. The animal-based waste will be transported to Lounavoima Oy’s incineration plant in Salo, which has the capacity to process the material.

Environmental authorities have faced criticism for the delay in addressing the issue. Johan Håkans, chair of the environmental board, stated that the unit only received initial complaints in March, two months after the company’s January bankruptcy. He emphasized that officials have acted as quickly as possible.

The cleanup may be prolonged by capacity limits at receiving facilities, a scheduled maintenance shutdown at the incineration plant from July 23 to August 12, and the unstable condition of some buildings, which must be dismantled gradually to avoid collapse.

Final costs, currently estimated at €1.06 million, will be confirmed upon completion. The West Coast Environmental Unit, which serves five municipalities, will cover the expenses initially, with potential reimbursement from the Ministry of the Environment’s environmental damage fund.

Håkans described the case as the most challenging in his over 20 years of service. Residents will receive updates on the progress, though odor and pest control measures will remain in place during the operation.