Vestnes Renovasjon leads the way: Turning waste into value with SoilSaver20
Vestnes Renovasjon has taken a major step forward. As the first waste management company in Norway, they are investing in a SoilSaver20 from SoilSteam – marking a clear shift in how biologically contaminated soil can be handled: from waste to valuable resource.
When soil is treated as waste, value is lost
Today, large volumes of soil end up in landfills due to biological contamination such as seeds, roots, and invasive species. This happens despite soil being a limited and essential resource.
Vestnes Renovasjon has long questioned this practice:
“We have been frustrated seeing reusable soil being sent to landfill. When solutions exist to treat and make it safe and marketable, we need to start thinking of soil as a resource – not waste,” says CEO Ole Andreas Holm.
From problem to premium product
With the SoilSaver20, soil that would previously be discarded can now be treated and reused. The result is 100% weed-free soil, fully documented and ready to be reintroduced into the market.
For Vestnes, this opens up new opportunities:
- Development of tailored soil blends
- Improved resource utilization
- New revenue streams
This is not just waste handling – it is value creation.
A necessary shift in the industry
While the waste industry has made significant progress in recycling materials like plastic, glass, and metal, soil has largely remained the “last fraction” – often overlooked.
This is exactly what SoilSteam aims to change:
“It’s time to move away from outdated thinking where biologically contaminated soil is automatically treated as waste,” says Hans Kristian Westrum, Head of Sales and Marketing at SoilSteam.
Vestnes Renovasjon is now taking a clear leadership role in driving this transition.
More than an investment – the start of a collaboration
The investment in SoilSaver20 also marks the beginning of a broader collaboration between the two companies. Together, they will:
- Optimize treatment processes
- Document climate and environmental benefits
- Contribute to the development of future standards
This work will be key to advancing the entire industry.
Accelerating change in Norway
While other countries have been early adopters, SoilSteam believes this investment could mark a turning point in Norway:
“When the technology exists and is economically viable, it simply doesn’t make sense to continue landfilling valuable soil resources,” says CEO Ken Roar Riis.
A strong signal to the market
Vestnes Renovasjon’s investment demonstrates that:
- The technology is proven
- The market is ready
- The transition to circular soil management has begun
This is about more than one machine – it’s about changing how we think about soil.