Cleanup of bankrupt feed factory ahead of schedule but frozen waste slows work
Monday 27th July 2026 on 12:30 in
Finland
The cleanup of the bankrupt Nä-Rö animal feed plant in Närpiö is progressing as planned, with 700 tonnes of feed waste already removed, Yle reports.
Nearly two million kilograms of slaughterhouse waste and old feed remained at the facility when it went bankrupt at the turn of the year. In late June, the West Coast environmental unit selected Lindemans Infra Ab to transport the frozen feed waste. Despite challenging conditions, the work has advanced smoothly, according to Oscar Lindeman of the company.
A smaller freezer was quickly emptied and fully cleaned. Work now continues in a larger, 400-square-metre cold storage facility. Environmental authorities classify the waste and define responsibility areas, while the cleanup firm handles processing and transport. The waste is taken to Lounavoima’s incineration plant in Salo.
The biggest challenge is handling frozen material, which must be thawed before removal. At the start, the feed was solid ice, requiring pieces to be broken off and left to thaw overnight before loading, Lindeman explained.
The building is in poor condition. Moisture has seeped in over years of freezer use, and as the units thaw, the released moisture has made the structure unstable. Lindeman assured that risk assessments have been conducted to ensure safe working conditions.
Additional caution is required due to ammonia in the cooling system, a hazardous gas demanding careful handling.
Work will pause temporarily due to a production break at the incineration plant, lasting until 12 August. The remaining material—less than half the total—will stay frozen during the break, even as temperatures rise slightly.
Large masses remain frozen for long periods; only the surface begins to thaw, Lindeman noted.
Originally estimated to take three months, the cleanup will continue after the cold storage is cleared. Lindeman declined to specify an exact completion date, noting that wastewater sludge in the basins must also be removed.