EU protection for Dalahästen and higher water fees

The Dalarna horse will be the first in Sweden to be registered in the EU's new system for geographical indications – it must be produced in Mora, Orsa or Rättvik. In Älvdalen, the water and sewerage fee is being raised by a further 16 percent when a new wastewater treatment plant is built, and cleaning is under way at Skogskyrkogården in Falun after All Saints' Day.

Cleaning up after All Saints’ Day at Skogskyrkogården

The All Saints’ Day weekend is over, and at Skogskyrkogården in Falun, litter and burnt-out grave candles are being removed – everything is sorted and recycled. According to one of the people working there, the work will take several days: “It feels like it will take forever, but eventually you’re done.”

“It’s impossible to count, but we’re probably talking about thousands of candles in any case,” says the person, who also says that this year there appear to be fewer candles and decorations than last year. SVT Nyheter Dalarna

Vansbro Municipality investigates old landfill

An old landfill in Vansbro has been identified as a significant threat to human health and the environment. Both lead and PFAS have been found in the soil. A previous investigation of the Skälsmyran landfill in Äppelbo revealed serious environmental pollutants.

Vansbro Municipality is now launching an in-depth investigation to map the risk of contamination spreading to groundwater and nearby watercourses. A municipality is the local authority responsible for matters such as schools, elder care and environmental issues. Falu Kuriren

New wastewater treatment plant raises water and sewerage fees in Älvdalen

A new wastewater treatment plant is being built in Mjågen in Älvdalen. The project has a budget of around 227 million kronor and means that water and sewerage fees in Älvdalen, already the highest in Dalarna, will rise by a further 16 percent. Water and sewerage services, for which households pay a fee, are abbreviated as VA in Swedish.

The reason for the 227 million kronor investment is an order from Länsstyrelsen with an associated financial penalty. Länsstyrelsen is the state’s administrative authority for the county and works on environmental issues, among other things. Mora Tidning

The Dala horse becomes the first in Sweden with EU protection

The Dala horse is the first in Sweden to be registered in the EU's new system for geographical indications for craft and industrial products. The requirement is now that a Dala horse must be made in Mora, Orsa or Rättvik and that it must be manufactured according to tradition – in wood and painted in a traditional way.

The protection applies throughout the EU, including when sold online, and covers, among other things, unauthorized use of the name and misleading information about its origin. The application is backed by Nils Olsson Dalahästar in Nusnäs and Grannas Hemslöjd, but all producers who meet the requirements are entitled to use the designation. SVT Nyheter Dalarna

New Airbnb rules create confusion in Sälen

The rental company Airbnb, which has around 290 million users worldwide, has changed the rules concerning what guests are expected to do at checkout – including when it comes to dishes, laundry and rubbish. Cottage owners will no longer be able to require more extensive cleaning from guests. The new rules apply to bookings made after 20 November, meaning that one set of regulations applies to bookings made now and another to bookings made after the change.

Several cottage rental owners who have contacted SVT say that they have left the site following the rule changes. A cottage rental owner in Sälen says that the company should have spoken to the hosts before making the changes and that it is unclear which rules apply to which guests. SVT has tried to reach Airbnb but has not received a response. SVT Nyheter Dalarna

Man Remanded on Suspicion of Murder in Ludvika Municipality

A man aged 65 has been remanded by Falun District Court on probable grounds of suspicion of murdering his wife. The woman, who was in her 60s, was found dead in a residence in Ludvika Municipality over the weekend. Police were called at lunchtime on Saturday following reports of a gross act of violence. The man was sentenced in 2022 to 4 months in prison for assaulting his wife and several other family members.

How he responds to the suspicions is unclear, and his lawyer does not wish to comment. Prosecution is to be brought before 2 December. A district court is the general court that hears criminal cases and disputes, and being remanded means that the person is being held in custody pending trial. SVT Nyheter Dalarna

In brief

• A prison in Falun could create around 170 jobs, and the Christian Democrats are accusing the Moderate Party in Falun of initially saying no out of fear that it would attract criminals to the municipality – something the Moderate Party rejects. Falu Kuriren
• Environmental pollutants at Malung's tannery, one of Dalarna's most contaminated sites, are to be encapsulated and buried on site with the help of a special coal. Mora Tidning
• A researcher who began their schooling in Tjärna ängar lectured ninth-graders at Maserskolan in Borlänge as part of the “The Researcher Returns Home” project. SVT Nyheter Dalarna
• IBF Falun Utveckling has a new head coach following a victory. Falu Kuriren
• The season's second derby between Mora and Leksand is expected on Saturday, after Leksand won the first 4–0 at Wibe arena in the second round of HockeyAllsvenskan. Mora Tidning
• A person from Falun has secured a place in the show choir at Wallmans salonger, competing against more than 1 000 applicants, and the premiere is on Thursday, 5 November. Falu Kuriren
• The property at Läde 513 in Mora has been sold for 1 345 000 kr; the house was built in 1959, has a floor area of 52 square metres, and the ownership transfer was completed in October 2026. Mora Tidning