At the Danish coastlines, volunteers can find so-called “ocean waste bags” at 50 selected locations. These bags are distributed to individuals who wish to assist in collecting marine debris. An impressive effort has resulted in a total of 225 tons of waste collected over the past year. The campaign, known as the Navy’s Marine Environment Guardians (Søværnets Havmiljøvogter-kampagne), is responsible for this initiative, as explained by campaign leader Birgitte Vagnholm.

Typically, the waste washes ashore after storms or strong winds, which uproots debris from the seabed or drives it in with the waves. The Marine Environment Guardians provide bags through their partners, and volunteers can also save up to a dispenser that supplies these bags. Vagnholm estimates, however, that the total amount of collected waste could be as much as 700 tons, based on the usage of these dispensers.

Birgitte Vagnholm notes that it is no longer beachgoers who are responsible for leaving large amounts of waste. Instead, waste originating from other countries is finding its way to Danish coastlines. For example, a significant portion of the waste found at Fanø beach originates from the United Kingdom, as indicated by the labels on the debris.

The Marine Environment Guardians, active since 2006, historically focused on combating oil spills in the oceans but have now shifted their focus to waste collection. This volunteer effort, supported by the Danish Navy, comprises over 30,000 engaged individuals. The dispensers for the ocean waste bags were set up in collaboration with the retail chain Ny Form.