May extend the capability of Langøya until 2030
NOAH is applying for an amendment to its permit in order to extend the treatment of inorganic hazardous waste on Langøya.
On 25 May, the environmental and resource company NOAH Solutions AS submitted an application to the Norwegian Environment Agency for the final disposal of stable, non-reactive hazardous waste in the ordinary waste landfill site at Sydbruddet on Langøya. The solution outlined is a result of improved processing, it is safe and in line with established practice in Norway and the requirements of the Norwegian Waste Regulations.
If the application is approved, the measure could ensure that Norway will be able to proceed safely treatment of inorganic hazardous waste until 2030. It also means that the skilled workforce and jobs at Holmestrand would be retained and developed. The proposed change will have no impact on the ultimate closure of the landfill sites on Langøya.
Thanks to many years of developing technology and improving its processes, NOAH has been able to treat waste to ensure that it meets the criteria for stable, non-reactive hazardous waste. According to the Norwegian Waste Regulations, treated hazardous waste that satisfies these criteria can be disposed of in landfill sites alongside ordinary waste.
In June 2020, NOAH and Terrateam AS in Mo i Rana received a request from the Norwegian environmental authorities (Norwegian Environment Agency) to study the options for extending the reception capacity for inorganic hazardous waste. This application is in response to this request.
Expertise and technology
CEO Anders Lægreid wants to ensure that society can benefit from the landfill capacity on Langøya, and that NOAH can continue receiving Norwegian industrial waste, fly ash and other waste fractions from Norwegian and Scandinavian incineration plant until 2030.
“We are working on the parallel tasks of developing recycling systems and more advanced treatment systems that could reduce demand for landfill in the future, while continuing to take environmentally hazardous substances out of circulation,” says Lægreid.
He emphasises that NOAH is confident that the system is safe, and optimistic that the permit will be granted by the Norwegian Environment Agency.
“The Norwegian Waste Regulations allow the final disposal of non-reactive, stable hazardous waste in ordinary waste landfill sites, and this is already the practice in many parts of the country. We have succeeded in producing a gypsum that complies with the requirements for ordinary waste, because we have built up unique expertise and a technical team in Norway. Our expertise is our most important asset, and is now proving to be even more important than the natural conditions in which we operate. We are using our knowledge and experience to solve a social challenge, and will ultimately be able to offer our customers the best reception facility in the Nordic region for these volumes, until at least 2030,” says Lægreid.
Further process
Norwegian Environment Agency may request more information and elaborations before the application is considered complete. This could mean that the final application for public consultation may be adjusted somewhat.