Sweden’s Major Environmental Case: ‘Queen of Trash’ Faces Trial for Illegal Waste Dumping

In Sweden’s largest environmental crime case to date, a businesswoman known as the “Queen of Trash” is now on trial for illegally disposing of massive amounts of waste. Bella Nilsson, who is currently known as Fariba Vancor, is one of 11 individuals facing charges of “aggravated environmental crime.”

Nilsson, formerly the CEO of waste management firm NMT Think Pink, and her associates are accused of unlawfully dumping or burying approximately 200,000 tonnes of waste at 21 different locations between 2015 and 2020. The allegations include improper handling of various waste materials, resulting in severe environmental damage.

As the trial opened at Attunda District Court, situated north of Stockholm, Nilsson chose not to address the media. Her legal representatives, along with those of Leif-Ivan Karlsson, another former CEO of Think Pink, have stated that their clients deny any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors have claimed that the waste mismanagement led to the release of hazardous substances such as carcinogenic chemicals, lead, arsenic, and mercury into the environment, impacting the air, soil, and water. In one notable case, a waste pile near a nature reserve caught fire and burned uncontrollably for two months after spontaneously igniting.

Nilsson has previously maintained that her company operated within legal parameters. However, the prosecution argues that NMT Think Pink, which declared bankruptcy in 2020 upon Nilsson’s arrest, failed to adhere to environmental regulations. The company’s alleged negligence resulted in waste being discarded in ways that posed significant risks to human health, wildlife, and plant life.

The waste management firm was engaged by various clients, including construction companies, municipalities, and private individuals, to handle a diverse range of materials such as building debris, electronics, metals, plastics, wood, tires, and toys. According to the prosecution, Think Pink left these materials unsorted and abandoned, exacerbating the environmental damage.

Among the 11 defendants is Thomas Nilsson, Bella Nilsson’s former husband. His lawyer contends that, as the CEO before 2015, Thomas Nilsson was not responsible for the alleged offenses committed after his tenure.

The investigation into this case has been extensive, with preliminary findings amounting to a staggering 45,000 pages of documentation. Prosecutor Anders Gustafsson has argued that the defendants not only dumped waste unlawfully but also engaged in falsifying documents to deceive authorities and channel the illicit proceeds for personal gain.

In response to the environmental devastation, several municipalities are seeking substantial financial compensation for the cleanup and decontamination efforts. The total claims amount to 260 million kronor (approximately $25.4 million). Botkyrka Municipality, located south of Stockholm, has specifically sought 125 million kronor in damages, having spent significantly more than this on waste removal alone. In Kagghamra, a fire caused by the waste compelled local parents to keep their children indoors for miles around due to toxic smoke.

As the trial proceeds, it will determine the extent of responsibility and the legal consequences for those involved in one of Sweden’s most significant environmental scandals.