Iceland seeks waste-disposal crocs

The crocodiles would eat up waste from the fishing industry

The people of a small fishing town on the north-east coast of Iceland have come up with an intriguing waste disposal scheme - importing crocodiles.

They would have a lot to do on the other hand, as in Colorado. We expect that they would also attract tourists, just to see them

Husavik Mayor Reinhard Reynisson

The mayor of Husavik is investigating using the reptiles to munch through the waste created by the town's fishing industry.

"People mostly laugh at the idea but for us its more than a joke," Mayor Reinhard Reynisson told the BBC. "We are actually looking into it seriously."

He was inspired after reading a magazine article which described a Colorado waste disposal scheme using crocodiles.

"They have hard winters, snow and frost and so on, but have access to geothermal water," Mr Reynisson said. "So, circumstances there are a bit similar to ours here in Husavik."

Attracting tourists

The warm ground water that is used for domestic heating and to produce electricity in the town would be a perfect environment for the crocodiles to feel at home.

And the local fish farming and fish processing areas would keep them busy.

"It's more environmentally friendly to use animals in the food chain to eat [the waste] than to dispose of it in other ways," he said.

"They would have a lot to do and, as in Colorado, we expect that they would also attract tourists, just to see them."

The town must investigate the safety implications of importing the crocodiles, including the danger of diseases, before it can set them to work providing "environmental services".