There are four stations in Boden that periodically need to be cleaned due to horse poo. One in Svartbjörnsbyn, two in Prästholmen and one in Manhem.
The dumping itself started before the municipality took over the reins.
– I have heard that the tractor driver who picks up the garbage bags has apparently been on that assignment before, says Rickard Widman, waste production manager at Boden municipality.
Offenses according to the Environmental Code
He believes there are two possible reasons.
– Partly it is economic, it is a cost to get rid of the manure. The second is that you may not know what to make of it.
Now the municipality wants to inform that it is actually illegal to leave horse poo in this way. It is a crime according to the Environmental Code and is classified as illegal waste management and anyone caught risks a fine.
– My tip is to call horse owners and check what they do with their manure. It must go to a facility that has permission to receive it, says Widman.
The municipality pays for it
They have not yet received all the invoices for the removal. But sending a tractor out and leaving the bags in the right place costs the municipality around SEK 1,000 per time.
– Then I have not counted the time for the administrative work.
In the clip, Rickard Widman talks about the dirty job.