Randers Municipality is facing a financial challenge of massive proportions after a landslide at the waste management company Nordic Waste. The municipality has already spent 254 million kroner on emergency measures and cleanup since the incident was discovered in December last year. Municipality director Jesper Kaas Schmidt stated at a press conference on Wednesday that the expected costs related to the landslide could amount to between 468.2 and 663.4 million kroner. This amount covers various efforts to stabilize the area and prevent further damage. Mayor of Randers, Torben Hansen (Social Democrats), described the situation as “extreme” and emphasized the municipality’s need for financial support to deal with this unforeseen crisis. “We are in a financially difficult situation, and we need help,” he said during the press conference.
The landslide was first publicly known on December 19, 2023, when Nordic Waste announced that they could no longer handle the situation and handed over responsibility to the municipality. Since then, Randers Municipality has been at the forefront of tackling the consequences of the landslide and ensuring the stability and safety of the area. This incident has highlighted the need for robust emergency plans and adequate resources to handle major industrial accidents, which can have serious environmental and economic consequences for local communities.