Kouvola opens new soil storage site for excess construction earth

A new soil storage area will open at the Keltakangas waste centre in Kouvola by the end of summer to handle surplus earth from major construction sites, including data centre projects and the VT 15 highway upgrade, Yle reports.

Ekokaari Oy, which processes and recycles industrial waste, is preparing the nearly three-hectare site—the second of its kind in Kouvola—to accommodate earth unfit for construction. The material will be shaped into a landscaped mound and eventually reforested.

CEO Aki Koivula estimates the site will fill within a decade, citing increased construction activity. The mound will reach a maximum height of 69.5 metres above sea level, roughly 20 metres above the surrounding terrain.

The area will also accept soil containing invasive species, such as Japanese rose roots, under permit conditions. While no transport contracts are yet finalised, the site is open to earth from any construction project requiring excavation.