The municipalities demand stricter laws in the wake of the garbage mountains.

The Think Pink scandal has left large, clear traces in the form of garbage mountains all over Sweden. Now the municipalities are demanding that the laws be tightened to stop waste crime.

» Updated: September 18 2024

» Published: September 04 2024

The municipalities demand stricter laws in the wake of the garbage mountains.
Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

Share this article

It is obvious that much tougher rules are needed for this type of operation, says Stina Lundgren (M), chairman of the municipal council in Botkyrka.

The trial of the Think Pink scandal began on Tuesday, described as Sweden's largest environmental scandal of all time.

According to the indictment, Think Pink has systematically taken payment for handling waste and then dumped it illegally. And now the municipalities have to handle the garbage mountains. Five of the affected municipalities – Norrtälje, Botkyrka, Eskilstuna, Gullspång, and Uppvidinge – are demanding stricter legislation.

The municipalities want, among other things, to see stricter penalties for environmental crimes.

Today, the fines are ridiculously low. There are those who take the fines and pay them because they make so much money anyway. They think the fine is small change and then you need a higher penalty scale for environmental crimes, says Stina Lundgren.

Another proposal is to abolish the county administrative board as an appellate body to speed up the process.

When we impose a fine on a company that we see has handled something incorrectly and it is appealed, it goes on to the county administrative board. Then it takes several months. As long as there is an appeal, our fine does not come into force, nothing happens.

The goal of stricter legislation from the municipalities' perspective is to achieve fair competition on the market for serious actors.

We hope it will lead to getting rid of unserious actors. There are serious actors on the market and they should not be punished.

Abolish the county administrative board as an appellate body in this type of cases and limit the possibility of leave to appeal in the Land and Environmental Court to get faster processes, within both the Environmental Code and the Planning and Building Act.

Tangible penalties for environmental crimes and extended opportunities for environmental sanctions. Furthermore, the damages awarded must remain in place for a longer period, so that criminals do not escape them after a shorter time.

There should be an obligatory requirement for economic security in waste management operations and other activities where the environment can be damaged.

The authorities should have extended opportunities to share information with each other.

General permit requirement for waste management operations.

Source: Norrtälje Municipality

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Sweden Summons Russian Ambassador Over Attacks on Ukraine
1 MIN READ

Sweden Summons Russian Ambassador Over Attacks on Ukraine

Elderly Man Dies in Head-On Collision Near Åre
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man Dies in Head-On Collision Near Åre

Man in His 60s Charged with Sexual Offenses Against Uppsala Schoolgirls
2 MIN READ

Man in His 60s Charged with Sexual Offenses Against Uppsala Schoolgirls

NATO to Set Up Signal Company in Sweden's Enköping
1 MIN READ

NATO to Set Up Signal Company in Sweden's Enköping

Kiruna Faces Major Relocation as 6,000 Residents Must Move Due to Mining
2 MIN READ

Kiruna Faces Major Relocation as 6,000 Residents Must Move Due to Mining

Five Dead in Sundbyberg Elevator Crash; CEO and Fitters Charged
2 MIN READ

Five Dead in Sundbyberg Elevator Crash; CEO and Fitters Charged

Kiruna Residents Face Relocation as LKAB Expands Iron Ore Mine
2 MIN READ

Kiruna Residents Face Relocation as LKAB Expands Iron Ore Mine

Teenager Seriously Injured in Öland A-Traktor Accident
1 MIN READ

Teenager Seriously Injured in Öland A-Traktor Accident

Christian Democrats Lead in Taxpayer-Funded Party Expenses
3 MIN READ

Christian Democrats Lead in Taxpayer-Funded Party Expenses

E4 Closed in Both Directions After Truck Accident Near Gävle
1 MIN READ

E4 Closed in Both Directions After Truck Accident Near Gävle

Värmdö Demands Action After Fatal Bridge Accident
2 MIN READ

Värmdö Demands Action After Fatal Bridge Accident

Unique Spiked Dinosaur Spicomellus Discovered in Africa
3 MIN READ

Unique Spiked Dinosaur Spicomellus Discovered in Africa

Housing Costs Threaten Participation at Climate Summit in Brazil
2 MIN READ

Housing Costs Threaten Participation at Climate Summit in Brazil

Man Arrested for Attempted Murder After Flemingsberg Shooting
1 MIN READ

Man Arrested for Attempted Murder After Flemingsberg Shooting

Chinese Goods Most Frequently Seized by EU Customs in 2024
1 MIN READ

Chinese Goods Most Frequently Seized by EU Customs in 2024

Harmful Boxwood Moth Spreading Rapidly Across Sweden
1 MIN READ

Harmful Boxwood Moth Spreading Rapidly Across Sweden

Man Found Dead in Kristinehamn Archipelago; Murder Investigation Launched
1 MIN READ

Man Found Dead in Kristinehamn Archipelago; Murder Investigation Launched

Shooting in Flemingsberg Leaves Two Men Injured
1 MIN READ

Shooting in Flemingsberg Leaves Two Men Injured

Scania Healthcare Workers Urge Sweden to Accept Gaza Patients
1 MIN READ

Scania Healthcare Workers Urge Sweden to Accept Gaza Patients

Person Released After Detention in Kallhäll Double Murder Case
1 MIN READ

Person Released After Detention in Kallhäll Double Murder Case