– People need to be willing to walk a bit. The waste management we have in the city is designed for light waste and simple items, and not for handling waste from cabins. This is something we struggle with every year, says department head Hans Stormo in Grimstad municipality to NRK.
Overflowing garbage bins have become a common sight in the city this summer. With thousands of tourists, the municipality cannot keep up.
– The population doubles during the holiday season. It is a challenge to manage the amount of waste we have right now, he says.
– Truly a challenge
Every single weekday, the municipality collects 1.5 tons of waste.
In addition, many people throw their garbage in the wrong places.
– We do have waste collection for cabins, but they don’t use it. They throw it in our bins down in the city. Then it fills up quickly, he says.
It has also been a problem that people place garbage beside full waste bins.
This attracts seagulls and other birds.
– You can imagine a 40-foot boat. It generates as much waste as an apartment. It has to go into our system. We really have a challenge, he says.
Hans Stormo is the department head for operations in Grimstad municipality.
Photo: Private
Has received criticism
The municipality has also been criticized for poor management, especially on weekends.
Now it has been decided that the municipality will empty garbage on Saturdays and Sundays as well.
Earlier this summer, they received unexpected help. Volunteers from the street team of Jerv have been picking up garbage on Sundays.
– A lot of credit to the street team and “Grimstad Min By” for getting them involved. They do a great job on Sundays, he says.
– So the message to the people is that they need to step up?
– Yes, they really need to step up. But it’s clear we need to step up too. It’s not just the people. But we don’t have more resources than we have, he says.
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