Taking out the trash in West Greenland

When did you start noticing more garbage along the coast where you live?

Many years ago. And when I was out with tourists, I would think to myself that it was not very nice that they come all the way to Greenland and see all that garbage—because Greenland is one of the most lovely places you can visit. And I’d think that I needed do something to clean it up because people spend a lot of money to come see the natural beauty of this country.

I also realized that all the plastic is not good for nature, either. I know a little bit about microplastics and the food chain, so I know it gets into the foods we eat. I decided I wanted to teach people here in Greenland that they need to take care of nature and not just throw things in the water when they are out sailing or fishing.

 What types of garbage were you seeing?

There is a lot of gear from people who fish, like nets, ropes and other gear. I can’t understand why people who depend on nature for their living would throw so many things into the water. I was also seeing plastic grocery bags, bottles and even oil drums. We have even found things like chairs and mattresses. But I would say maybe 80 per cent of the stuff we find is coming from fishing boats.

When did you start collecting this garbage?

I started eight years ago, when I launched my business. I can only do it in the summertime, when there is no ice or snow. It really depends on the weather—there can’t be any big waves, so I have to choose the right days to do the work. But I spend six days every summer out in my boat collecting plastic and other garbage. Then there are two days that I spend on land, sorting and separating it all so I can bring it to the right place. For example, I put all the rope in one pile and all the fishing nets in another one. The nets are all made of nylon, and the ropes and nets get shipped to Denmark, where they are reused.

It is a big job, but my daughter and wife help me every year. So does my wife’s brother. The government here in Greenland also has a fund supporting the project, so I can pay people to work with me. That money also helps to pay for the gas for the boat. But I cover about 25 per cent of the costs of doing this myself.

How have you tried to prevent this waste from collecting in the first place?

For the past two years, I have gone into the schools and talked to the children about the problem. I have also invited the school to bring the children to my home after I have gone out collecting to see all the garbage and help count it. I talk to them about how they need to take care of nature, and about microplastics and the food chain. I explain how all the plastics end up in the smaller animals, which are then eaten by bigger animals, and how eventually we are eating these microplastics ourselves. I really want to teach young people so they can take care of nature too.

I have also called the prime minister of Greenland and invited him to come out with me collecting garbage. And he did, about four years ago, and he was also very angry to see what a problem we have here in Greenland. I have also invited the mayor of Sisimiut to come out with me to collect the plastic and other garbage, and he has. I am really working hard to make people understand what a problem we have.

How long will you keep doing this?

As long as I am fit and I can do it, I will. But I am hoping that someday, I won’t need to. I have seen other people starting to pick up garbage when they are out in nature. And when people are out sailing or fishing, they are starting to make sure they bring all their garbage back home and put it in the right place. So, I think people are beginning to take more care of our nature now.