Think Pink waste piles persist despite convictions and costly cleanup plans

The Svea Court of Appeal convicted five people for a total of 19 environmental offences, 18 of which were classified as serious, and imposed prison sentences along with substantial damages. The most massive waste mound, close to 60,000 tonnes, remains in Kagghamra, Botkyrka, where a prolonged fire from December 2020 to February 2021 generated thick smoke that affected nearby households, causing daily headaches and forcing residents to wear carbon-filter masks.

A study by Stockholm University documented elevated levels of toxic chemicals, including lead and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, on several days during the blaze. The fire was finally extinguished in February 2021 by covering the heap with sand, and recent sampling revealed carcinogenic and fertility-affecting substances in the waste. Botkyrka has installed a treatment plant funded by state grants, but officials say it is only a temporary fix and that full removal, estimated to cost tens of millions, must be financed by the state. Similar waste deposits persist at eight other sites across central Sweden, with municipalities like Västerås already spending millions on partial clean-up and seeking additional funds, while courts have also awarded large damages to the affected municipalities.