A couple from Denmark who abandoned their “forest resort” in Sweden for Guatemala, leaving behind significant tax debt and 158 barrels of human waste, have defended their actions by claiming that their handling of the compost toilets was “very normal.” Flemming Hansen and Mette Helbæk, both chefs, fled their eco-friendly retreat, Stedsans, in Halland, southern Sweden, last year, owing substantial amounts to Swedish and Danish tax authorities. They have since established a business in Guatemala.
The extent of their environmental negligence, including allowing wastewater to flow into the forest and allegations of animal deaths due to abandonment, was exposed by investigations from newspapers Politiken and Dagens Nyheter. hôentheor local authorities labeled their actions as “environmental crime.” However, on Thursday, the couple contended that they were acting lawfully. They posted on social media, asserting that in rural Sweden, the barrels left behind from compost toilets are a normal practice and an essential part of permaculture principles.
Despite the couple’s claims, Daniel Helsing from the local Hylte council stated that the couple did not adhere to the necessary composting waste requirements. He explained that the standard practice involves a collecting service for barrels, provided by local authorities in almost every Swedish county, which the couple did not utilize. Composting toilet waste is permissible but must be done following local authority guidelines.
The Swedish Tourist Association expressed unfamiliarity with the methods employed at Stedsans, and Hansen and Helbæk accused the journalists involved in the investigation of fabricating claims and causing them “the biggest (literal!) shitstorm” of their lives. They also accused Hylte council of being aware of their toilets and procedures, which they had demonstrated to authority representatives multiple times.
Hylte council denied being paid to deal with waste and stated they were considering reporting the matter to the police. Hansen and Helbæk alleged their company went bankrupt, and their tax debt in Denmark increased tenfold due to interest and fees over a decade. They condemned the tax authorities as “cold-hearted” and “narcissistic,” claiming they were incapable of paying more than 50,000 DKK (£5,800) monthly. Hansen mentioned they owed the Swedish tax agency over 7 million SEK (more than £550,000).
The couple defended their move to Guatemala as a means to offer their family a second chance, stating that if viewers see them as villains for this decision, they are sorry.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/10/couple-who-ran-swedish-eco-resort-say-158-barrels-of-human-waste-left-behind-was-very-normal
