The matter in summary – Several places in Norway have experienced abnormally large snowfalls, which creates challenges for transport and storage. – The municipalities of Bø in Telemark and Larvik have to send trucks ten miles to a landfill in Mjøndalen to get rid of the snow, due to environmental toxins which can damage nature. – The snow that is removed can only be stored on own land or approved landfills, and there are currently no alternatives to the landfill in Mjøndalen. – It has been pointed out that it is a social problem that the snow has to be driven so far, and it has It has been suggested that there should be more and approved alternatives for storage. – However, there are no plans to change the requirements, as it is important to handle contaminated mass in a responsible manner. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Several places in Norway have experienced abnormally large snowfalls in recent weeks. It presents some pretty big challenges physically. The municipalities Bø in Telemark and Larvik, for example, have to send trucks to a landfill in Mjøndalen to get rid of the white masses. Large amounts of snow cause headaches both here and there. Holmestrand station is a good example. Photo: Hege Therese Holtung / news That means 10 miles and almost an hour and a half drive for the trucks. Each road. The regulations state that the snow cannot be dumped anywhere, due to environmental toxins that can damage nature. Drammens Tidende was the first to report on the case. There are currently no alternatives. The snow from the train stations in the mentioned municipalities also has to go long distances. That’s what Stine Strachan, communications manager at Bane Nor Eiendom, tells us. Communications manager Stine Strachan at Bane Nor Eiendom hopes to get local landfills to avoid driving the snow so far when it snows so much. Photo: Bane NOR Snow that is removed can only be stored on its own land or in approved landfills. From Larvik alone, they have sent fifty loads on long-distance trips so far this winter, she says. – Unfortunately, the closest landfill for us at these stations is Mjøndalen. We are trying to consult with the municipality and county if it is possible to create a new landfill a little closer. It is really stupid that we have to drive so far to get rid of it, admits Strachan. – Must follow the rules The snow that is driven away ends up at Norwegian Mass Handling in Mjøndalen. From national highway 36 in Bø alone, 40 loads of snow have crossed the county border. – Of course we think it’s stupid, says Helge Dieset, communications manager at Veidekke. – It is a bad solution for several reasons. It is expensive, there are environmental emissions and it is cumbersome. At the same time, we respect laws and regulations. We just have to follow them. We have no choice, he emphasizes. Snow from far and near harbors in Mjøndalen. Fifty loads have been driven from Larvik alone on behalf of Bane nor this winter. Photo: Balsharan Pal Kaur / news That there are good reasons for handling the snow correctly, those who receive it have received tangible examples. The employees at the landfill in Mjøndalen have found both scooters and shopping carts in the piles that are dumped at them. Ole Terje Letmolie, general manager at Norwegian Mass Handling in Mjøndalen. Photo: Balsharan Pal Kaur / news – When a scooter suddenly arrives, it is important that we handle the snow in a way so that we don’t get rubbish that ends up in the water. That is why it is an important reception, says general manager Ole Terje Letmolie. However, he thinks that the snow has to be driven ten miles is a bit silly. – It is a social problem when the snow has to be driven this far, he believes. – Completely wrong Storting representative Bård Hoksrud thinks it is completely wrong and pointless to spend time and money on transporting snow so many miles. Bård Hoksrud (Frp) is unimpressed by the practice of driving snow from Bø and Larvik to Mjøndalen. Photo: Theodor Aasland Valen / news He believes that the Environment Directorate and the authorities have taken an overly restrictive line. – This must be done in a simpler way, he says to news. Hoksrud believes that the emissions caused by the freight in itself show how pointless it is to drive snow long distances to save the environment. – It is far too complicated. Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad (Ap), State Secretary in the Ministry of Climate and the Environment, says that there are no plans to comply with the requirements, but understands that more landfills are desirable. She also emphasizes that it is the local authorities who must possibly provide more and approved alternatives for storage. State Secretary Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad (Ap) in the Climate and Environment Directorate. Photo: Trond A. Isaksen She believes that the most important thing is that you handle contaminated mass in a responsible way. Both in terms of health and the harmful effects on the environment. – We are talking about microplastics, mud, sand, gravel or other waste that can be in this snow, she says.
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Snow is transported 10 miles to be stored – Bård Hoksrud is stated – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
