Stockholm Farm Tests Soil After Million Tons of Waste Buried
A Stockholm property owner faces mandatory soil testing after burying over one million tons of waste material. Neighbors fear heavy metal contamination while the owner complains about costs. Results from nine soil samples will determine if toxic substances are leaking into the environment.
A property owner in Haninge, Stockholm must test soil after burying over one million tons of waste material. The material was used to create horse pastures on the agricultural property. Local authorities now require nine different soil samples to check for toxic substances.
Neighbors worry about environmental risks. Mertz Laakso from the local cottage association said, "The municipality took far too long to act. We fear rainwater will carry heavy metals into the forest."
The property owner Linda Bengtsson, who runs Mira Care company, expressed concerns about costs. "I haven't opposed taking samples, but half as many would suffice since it's quite expensive," she said in a statement.
Authorities previously banned trucks from entering the area with heavy fines. The site now sits completely empty according to witnesses. Neighbors and environmental protection groups confirm no work has occurred there for a long time.
An external environmental consultant has collected soil samples for testing. Results will be ready within several months.
This situation highlights the tension between property rights and environmental protection in Sweden. The delayed response suggests regulatory gaps in monitoring large-scale waste disposal projects near residential areas.