Norway

Policy framework

Norway is committed achieving the goals to the SDG 14.1 and the relevant UNEA-resolutions and the UNEA-3 vision to end all discharge marine plastic litter, and we consider these political commitments as guiding in our global and national efforts. The OSPAR Action Plan also states that discharge of litter with a negative environmental should be reduced. The Government of Norway has a general ambition to halt emissions to Norwegians seas and lakes.

Norwegian measures are also guided by the ambitions in the EU plastics strategy and European Action plan on Circular Economy 2.0

In 2016, the Norwegian Environment Agency assessed the Norwegian sources of marine plastic litter and microplastics and presented recommendations for new measures. These assessments have been updated in 2020. Plastic litter originating from fisheries and aquaculture, as well as consumer good waste constitute most of the marine plastic litter in Norway.

National Action Plan

• In June 2017 the government presented a white paper to the Parliament on waste policies in a circular economy. The White Paper also presents a Plastic Strategy in order to reduce marine litter and microplastics both on a national and international level. The Parliament endorsed the measures proposed by the Government in late February 2018.
• Currently, we are in the process of revising our national plastics strategy. It will address measures across the whole life-cycle of plastics and address plastic pollution to all environmental media. The strategy will be ready by end of 2020

Legal framework

• “Pollution Control Act”
  Act of 13 March 1981 No.6 Concerning Protection Against Pollution and Concerning Waste. Littering, is illegal according to the Pollution Control Act.
  Related URL:
  https://www.regjeringen.no/en/dokumenter/pollutioncontrol-act/id171893/
  Norway has a very comprehensive policy framework regulating waste through the Pollution Control Act and detailed Waste Regulations and as part of the European Economic Area, Norway is bound by European rules and regulations, including targets relevant to this issue.
  Related URL:
  https://www.regjeringen.no/en/dokumenter/wasteregulations/id512073
• “The marine resources Act”
  Act of 6 June 2008 no. 37 relating to the management of wild living marine resources.
  The Marine Resources Act, which regulates fisheries, forbids dumping of fishing gear. If fishing gear is lost or has to be cut, it is an obligation to try to recover it and to report the loss.
• The Product Control Act regulates products from causing environmental disturbance, and damage to health, as well as national provisions for eco-design.
  Related URL:
  https://www.regjeringen.no/en/dokumenter/product-control-act/id172150/
  Further regulations pertaining to different sources of microplastics emissions will be considered into the existing Norwegian legal framework.

Indicators

As part of the OSPAR, Norway currently assesses beach litter, seabed litter and plastic particles in fulmar stomachs as common indicators. These allow the abundance, trends and composition of marine litter in the OSPAR Maritime Area to be determined for different marine components (coast, seafloor and floating) and gives also an indication of the extent marine species are impacted. Updated assessments for beach litter and plastic particles in fulmar stomachs have been agreed in 2019. Development of an indicator for microplastics in sediment continues. The aim is that updated assessments of all the OSPAR marine litter indicators ready in 2023.
Related URL:
https://oap.ospar.org/en/ospar-assessments/committee-assessments/eiha-thematic-assessments/marine-litter/beach-litter-monitoring/
https://oap.ospar.org/en/ospar-assessments/intermediate-assessment-2017/pressures-human-activities/marine-litter/composition-and-spatial-distribution-litter-seafloor/
https://oap.ospar.org/en/ospar-assessments/committee-assessments/eiha-thematic-assessments/marine-litter/plastic-particles-in-fulmar-stomachs-north-sea/

Apart from this, there are no national indicators that specifically target marine plastic litter. However new indicators are being considered that also will look at the problem from a more upstream perspective.

Measures

Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
  To date, EPR systems exists on plastic packaging and drinking bottles and beverage cans, on e-waste. We are currently assessing new EPR systems for other plastic single use products in line with the EU SUP-directive and plastic equipment used in fisheries and aquaculture.
• Plastic carrier bags
  Norway is bound by the EU directive to reduce the use of plastic carrier bags. In 2017, the largest actors in the Norwegian grocery, retail and trade sectors agreed to meet the national obligations in the directive through the establishment of the Norwegian Retailers ‘Environment Fund (HMF) owned and operated by the relevant private actors.
  Members of the fund are required to place a fee on all plastic carrier bags they sell. The fund finances both national and international initiatives aimed at reducing and preventing plastic pollution e.g. through clean-up projects and support for technology and innovation.
• The fund’s stated goals are threefold:
  1) Prevent and clean up plastic pollution, not least in relation to marine littering
  2) Reduce the use of plastic carrier bags
  3) Increase resource efficiency by supporting measures to increase plastic recycling
  By 2018, the majority of actors in the grocery, retail and trade sectors were already part of the fund, and 80-90% of all plastic carrier bags sold in Norway were subject to this fee through the fund.
• Single use plastic products
  Norway will also introduce the relevant measures outlined in the EU Directive on of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (SUP-directive) such as bans on certain plastic products, extended producer responsibility schemes including for cleaning up costs, marking requirements etc. The Norwegian Environment Agency has produced the report “Reduced littering of single use plastics” that have assessed those single use plastic items with the biggest environmental impact. The total amount of single use plastic items on the Norwegian market has increased rapidly over the past years, to an estimated 59 629 tonnes annually.
  Norway is also considering a plastic pact with relevant industry actors that provide single-use plastic items/plastic packaging.
• Restrict microbeads for cosmetics etc.
  The proposal by ECHA to regulate intentionally added microplastics in cosmetics and other products will become Norwegian law eventually, so not relevant to introduce specific national measures in that regard. However, regulation to reduce microplastics emissions from artificial turfs has been on a public hearing and is now being considered. Norway has also advocated regulations to reduce microplastic emissions from textiles in relation to washing machines under the EUs Eco-design Directive. We are also considering measures to reduce emissions from paint, leisure boat ports and car tyres.
  Norway, in close cooperation with the EU, will promote more sustainable plastics use and design of products that will stay for longer in the plastics value chain – striving towards a more circular economy for plastics.

Environmentally sound waste management and cleanup of marine plastic litter

In general, Norway has a well-functioning waste collection and management system that ensures environmentally sound waste management. Clean-up of legacy waste has increased in years, and efforts will continue to clean the Norwegian shorelines, as awareness has grown.

• Improve waste management recycling system
  Norway has targets for recycling, in line with EUs Waste Framework Directive and other relevant EU legislation. The country is currently considering measures to reach these targets.
  Norway is considering new regulations on sorting plastic waste from household waste and to a certain extend industrial waste.
• Clean-up activity at rivers and coasts
  • There are many clean-up activities in Norway. Government and voluntary efforts work closely together. There is a subsidy scheme by the Norwegian Environment Agency to support various clean-up measures across the country.
  • The organization “Keep Norway Beautiful” coordinates the voluntary clean-up efforts. In 2018 the government established the Norwegian Centre for Oil Spill Preparedness and Marine Environment, as a national knowledge hub for clean-up efforts. This centre has developed a national mapping tool for clean-up along the Norwegian coast.
  • In addition there are other private initiatives such as HMF that contributes in a substantial way to cleaning up activities, and a growing number of professional clean-up actors have emerged in Norway over the past few years.
  • We are currently assessing how to streamline our clean-up efforts and maximize the outputs of resources available. Each County Governor’s Office has been tasked to promote better regional cooperation in clean-up efforts.
• Actions on fishing gear
  • Norway is considering a new EPR scheme on plastic items used in fisheries and aquaculture.
  • In order to ensure proper collection and treatment of waste collected at sea, a selected number of ports, ships and fishermen are part of “Fishing for Litter”. Also under considering is a new “no special fee” system for waste collected by fishermen and others at sea.
  • Since the 1980s, the Norwegian Agency for Fisheries has organized annual clean-up cruises for lost or abandoned fishing gear.
• Capturing trap/filter on drainage/river
  Many local initiatives for capturing litter in rivers and waterways are being tested across the country, but none of these have been scaled up so far.

Promotion of innovative solutions

• Norway has a grant scheme to promote innovative solutions to reduce marine litter.

Multi-stakeholder involvement and awareness raising

• There is a high-level of awareness in Norway. The national beach cleaning week is for instance an important tool to raise awareness. As part of the SUP-directive implementation, consideration is made of how to fulfill the directives’ obligations to raise awareness in the best possible way.
• Since 2018 the Norwegian Environment Agency has hosted the national forum for government agencies with various responsibilities for clean-up of marine plastic litter. This forum aims to share information and increase coordination of efforts. The Norwegian Environment Agency has also provided financial support to various actors promoting better recycling.

Sharing scientific information and knowledge: R&D and Monitoring

• Knowledge-based decision-making is key, and the Norwegian government is also involved in strengthening the knowledge base on marine litter and microplastics, including through stronger research efforts, mapping and monitoring. There is a strong need for increased knowledge inter alia on the effects of marine litter and microplastics. Since 2019, the government has set aside an additional USD one million for specific research on marine litter and microplastics in the annual budget.

Promotion of international cooperation

• Norway is a strong supporter of stronger global commitments to deal with the issue of marine plastic litter and is actively engaged in relevant processes under EU, OSPAR, Nordic Cooperation and the Arctic Council.
• Norway has signed the G7 Plastics Charter, G20 Action Plan and has been a strong promoter of the four relevant resolutions passed by the UNEA. Strong promoters of measures taken by IMO and Basel Convention
• Norway believes that there a need for a new global agreement to more effectively deal with this issue in a comprehensive manner, and has called for such a new global agreement along with many others.
• The Norwegian Development Program to Combat Marine Litter and Microplastics
  In 2018, the Norwegian government launched a new development programme to combat marine litter and microplastics. The programme is intended to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.1 which states that by 2025, the world should prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds and the UNEA-3 agreed vision to eliminate the discharge of litter and microplastics to the oceans over time
  The Government of Norway will spend NOK1.6 billion (approx. USD 200 million) on the development programme to combat marine litter and microplastics in the period 2019 to 2024.
  The main objective of the Norwegian development program to combat marine litter and microplastics is to prevent and greatly reduce the extent of marine litter from large sources in developing countries.
  To achieve this, funding is set to focus on four outcomes:
  • Management of plastic waste in partner countries is improved
  • Selected coastal areas and rivers are cleared of waste and the waste is sustainably managed.
  • Private sector performance regarding sustainable production and use, and responsible waste management, is improved
  • Global commitments and national and regional instruments to prevent marine litter are strengthened.
  Projects are being implemented through multilateral organizations such as the UN and the World Bank, NGOs and research institutes. Geographic focus is on fast-growing economies in South East Asia and Africa, as well as small island developing states to improve waste management systems and clean-up along the shore. Some 40 projects worldwide are funded by the programme.

Achievements

In general, Norway has a well-functioning waste collection and management system that ensures environmentally sound waste management. Clean-up of legacy waste has increased in years, and efforts will continue to clean the Norwegian shorelines, as awareness has grown.

The implementation of the SUP-directive is expected to increase the prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation in Norway. Norway, in close cooperation with the EU, will promote more sustainable plastics use and design of products that will stay for longer in the plastics value chain – striving towards a more circular economy for plastics.

As a general comment for this section, Norway would like to point to that as of now there are no standardized methods for measuring the presence of marine plastic litter in the environment, nor a global baseline to measure these achievements against, and very little quantitative information is available on a global level. The country also lacks indicators for quantitative reporting on our national efforts more upstream There is reason to believe that global awareness has increased as a result of the global attention and efforts taken in various multilateral organizations. Norway believes that a new global agreement will provide an important framework for reporting on our achievements, both on a national level and as a collective global whole towards these various goals and targets.

Promotion of international cooperation

• Since 2014, Norway has successfully put forward four UNEA-resolutions on marine litter and microplastics, proposed the amendments to the Basel Convention to include plastic waste as well as promoted the action plan under the IMO, bringing the issue of marine plastic litter to the top of the international agenda.

Challenges

• The lack of knowledge of the scope of plastic pollution in Norwegian waterways and seas, the most prevalent sources and the pathways of plastic litter remains a challenge in Norway.
• Microplastics from land-based sources is estimated to be is proportionally larger challenge than macro-plastics, as a large part of our waste generated is being treated. In particular, microplastic discharge from abrasion from car tires and emissions from artificial football turfs constitute specific challenges in our region.
• There is also a lack of knowledge about the total pressures of plastic and microplastic pollution on marine ecosystems and thus on food safety.
• Plastic consumption in Norway is expected to grow, and we strive to get in place a circular economy for plastics to improve resource efficiency and to increase the use of secondary plastics as well as better design of products as part of cooperation with the European Union.
• Lack of standardised methods for measuring the presence of marine plastic litter in the environment, and no global baseline against which to measure these achievements, as well as very little quantitative information is available on a global level. There is also a lack of indicators for quantitative reporting on national efforts more upstream. There is reason to believe that global awareness has increased as a result of the global attention and efforts taken in various multilateral organisations. Norway believes that a new global agreement will provide an important framework for reporting on its achievements, both on a national level and as a collective global whole towards these various goals and targets.

Best practices

National level

• The Pollution Control Act and its associated measures is well-function management tool to prevent littering and marine plastic pollution in Norway.
• Norway has a system that ensures a high return rate of plastic bottles, through an environmental tax on bottles and drinking cans. Bottles and cans get a lower tax depending on the return percentage. This gives the industry a good reason to establish return systems for bottles. The plastic bottles are subject to a deposit fee, which the consumers get back when they return the bottles. 88 % of plastic bottles are returned in Norway today. We have in 2018 raised the deposit fee, to give the consumers an even stronger incentive.

Local level

• The municipalities have a duty to collect and ensure proper treatment of municipal waste. The municipalities charge each household a fee that fully covers all costs of waste management, including collection, transport, reception, storage, treatment and control. More than 80% of the waste is either recycled or used as energy. Where landfills still have to be used, they have to be designed and monitored to prevent run-off, discharges to air and spreading of litter.

Private sector

• According to the provisions in the Pollution Control Act, the industry has the responsibility to ensure environmentally sound treatment of their own plastic waste. The return system for bottles and drinking can described above is an illustrating example of this.

International cooperation

• Norway believes that there is a need for a new global agreement to more effectively and comprehensively address this issue across the whole lifecycle of plastics. While a large number of global and regional initiatives have been taken over the past years, many of these lack a permanent structure for follow-up, reporting and cooperation. Such an agreement should be developed and subsequently housed under the auspices of the UN system to ensure best possible legitimacy, participation and buy-in.