Randers Municipality is seeking to relinquish responsibility for several piles of contaminated material located near the Nordic Waste area, urging the Central Denmark Region to assume control and determine the appropriate course of action. Municipal Director Jesper Kaas Schmidt stated that the region has rejected this request.

The municipality has also appealed to the Environmental Protection Agency to assign responsibility, but the agency has declined to intervene, according to a memorandum from the political follow-up group in Randers Municipality dated May 16. According to the municipal director, the municipality lacks the legal authority to remove the piles.

The municipality’s legal counsel argues that the situation does not qualify as an environmental disaster prevention effort, unlike the previous landslide in the same area. However, the municipality remains responsible for addressing water pollution, with rainwater carrying pollutants from the piles to the treatment plant.

While there is no immediate threat to the stream or groundwater, Schmidt emphasized that reducing water pollution would streamline the cleaning process. The continued presence of the uncovered piles will prolong the task of purifying the polluted water from the affected area.

Nordic Waste relinquished control of the landslide containment efforts and transferred responsibility for the area to Randers Municipality in mid-December 2023. The company subsequently declared bankruptcy in January 2024.

The municipality intends to formally notify the Central Denmark Region of its decision to cease any further action regarding the piles.