Volunteers collect over 200 tons of ocean waste

In Denmark, volunteers have gathered over 225 tons of ocean waste along the coasts over the past year, reports Birgitte Vagnholm, head of the Navy’s Environmental Watch campaign. Ocean waste typically washes ashore after storms or strong winds. Publically accessible ‘ocean waste bags’ are available at 50 locations countrywide, and environmental watchers can also acquire these bags through partners or earn their own dispenser. Vagnholm estimates that nearly 700 tons of waste may have been collected due to the campaign’s success. She notes that most of the trash isn’t left by beachgoers but arrives from other countries, citing Fanø as an example where debris often originates from England. Established in 2006, the volunteer marine environmental watchers initially focused on combating oil spills but have shifted to address waste. Currently, over 30,000 people have signed up as volunteers, with dispensers set up in collaboration with the retail chain Ny Form.