In Sweden's northernmost inhabited village of Keinovuopio, 64-year-old Sixten Jensen must drive 50 kilometers round trip to Finland to dispose of his household waste. The long journey stems from a lack of local waste solutions due to difficult terrain and past issues with overflowing containers. Sixten expresses strong frustration with the situation and worries especially about the summer.
Keinovuopio, Sweden's northernmost inhabited village, sits right on the border with Finland and is known for its remote location. In winter, residents can cross the border river on ice, but in summer, the only route into Sweden is a hanging bridge that cannot support cars. This creates major challenges for everyday needs like waste disposal.
Sixten Jensen, 64, has struggled with the waste issue for years. Previously, containers were available on the Finnish side near his home, but they overflowed due to through traffic and tourists. The Finnish waste company ended the agreement after trash blew into the river. 'It was damn awful, there were so many tourists who came and dumped and no one emptied them. When it blew, a lot of trash ended up in the river,' says Sixten.
In recent months, Kiruna municipality's Tekniska verken placed temporary bins near the bridge, but these could not be emptied due to limited access and are now being removed. Instead, Sixten is directed to the waste station in Kilpisjärvi, 25 kilometers away. 'I think it's terrible,' he states, worrying about driving with hot-smelling trash in summer or what happens if his car breaks down.
Otto Andersson, head of recycling at Tekniska verken, admits 50 kilometers is a long way but notes that Kilpisjärvi is the nearest town where residents shop. A Swedish alternative like Karesuando is twice as far. 'We are open to dialogue,' he says, but waste collection near the home seems unlikely. Sixten has emailed the municipality and hopes for a solution soon; otherwise, illegal methods like burning trash may increase among neighbors.
