These operators will clean the Oslofjord and the Telemark coast.

Many have seen the disturbing images of garbage along and in the Oslofjord in the media recently. Now, the work begins to clean up the populous coastline.

- The Oslofjord, with its once-rich plant and animal life, is suffering, and it's urgent to take action. We have now recruited four operators to clean up marine litter in the Oslofjord and along the Telemark coast, and as soon as the last contract is signed, we'll begin the cleanup work, says Anja Stokkan, responsible for Cleanup Norway in Oslo, Viken, Vestfold, and Telemark in the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund.

National Cleanup Program Expanding South
The Cleanup Norway program is Norway's first national cleanup program. The program is established and led by the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund. The program was launched in Lofoten on September 22, 2020. Now it has been clarified where, when, and who will clean up the different areas in the Oslofjord and along the Telemark coast.

There has been no shortage of cleanup expertise along Norway's most populous fjord. Four different operators will share the task of removing plastic waste in the Oslofjord. The operators have been tasked with cleaning a coastline totaling 497 km.

- We are very pleased with the operators who will undertake this important work. They are professional operators with good plans in place. They have solid expertise, great commitment, and the capacity to initiate the crucial cleanup work, says Stokkan.

- A lot of microplastics
Cleaning the Oslofjord is a meticulous task, according to the responsible person for Cleanup Norway in Oslo, Viken, Vestfold, and Telemark.

- The challenge with these populous areas is that there is a lot of microplastics, which is time-consuming and complicated to clean up. In addition, one must remember to protect the environment while cleaning, says Stokkan.

Cleanup is underway in several regions
For the first time in Norwegian history, a program is working so systematically to clean the country of plastic litter. The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund is spending over 100 million NOK on the Cleanup Norway program in 2021.

- The first goal we set for ourselves is to clean 40 percent of the outer coast, and the cleanup is already underway in several places along the Norwegian coast where we have engaged cleanup operators, such as in Vestland. With the Cleanup Norway program, we will clean areas that require more professionalized capacity and areas that are currently not being cleaned. This work is in addition to the important efforts contributed by volunteers. Together, we will remove plastic from nature, and we will start immediately. Marine litter cannot continue to spoil the fjord, concludes Stokkan.