Cleanup along priority rivers with high levels of plastic litter

• The call aims to contribute to cleaning along 19 prioritised rivers with significant plastic litter. The rivers and the cleaning areas along these rivers have been selected based on NORCE's report Plastic in Norwegian rivers and feedback from volunteers to the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund.

  The cleaning areas along the rivers are indicated on the map, and an application must cover the entire specified cleaning area for each river.

  It is possible to apply for cleaning along multiple rivers, but this must be done with one application per river/cleaning area. Applications that do not cover announced cleaning areas will not be processed.

  All types of businesses can apply.

• • The rivers are to be cleaned by 2025
  • The applicant may submit an application for multiple clean-up areas, but must then submit one application per clean-up area.

• • Work hours for planning and organising major cleanup operations as well as personnel costs for cleaners.
  • Transport and handling of waste, when not covered by the refund scheme, other schemes or operators.
  • Hiring of subcontractors (this may include contractors or similar)

• • Planning and organisation of underwater cleanup.
  • Planning and organisation of salvaging wrecked boats.
  • Awareness-raising efforts beyond the actual cleanup activity.

• • The applicant must have an organisation number and be registered in the Brønnøysund Register Centre. In addition, the applicant must be able to document a sufficient HSE system and procedures for the safe execution of the cleaning work. The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund does not want individuals or actors without adequate HSE to carry out cleaning due to risk.
  • Business and contact persons must be registered in the project portal.
  • Applications must be submitted through the project portal.
  • Economy (more information here)Rules for hourly rates for calculating expenses in the projectAudit, including threshold amounts and guide for the applicant's auditor
  • Rules for hourly rates for calculating expenses in the project
  • Audit, including threshold amounts and guide for the applicant's auditor
  • The applicant must provide realistic budgets and describe how the funds will be used.
  • Applications must be written in Norwegian or English.
  • Any previously entered agreements with the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund must be adhered to

• Before the second and subsequent payments, the recipient must submit a status report for the project when requesting the disbursement of funds.
• Multi-year projects: the recipient must submit a written annual report for the project each year.
• All projects must submit a final report for the project.
• All reports must be submitted electronically in the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund’s project portal. This will be explained in the startup meeting.

Guide to project accounting and auditing

Project accounts and auditing

• All projects must prepare final project accounts for the entire project period as part of the final report.
• For grants from NOK 350,000 up to and including NOK 1,000,000, a statement must also be provided by a state-authorised public accountant with “Agreed-upon procedures” in accordance with ISRS 4400 Agreed-upon procedures.
• For grants exceeding NOK 1,000,000, a statement must also be provided by a state-authorised public accountant with an audit of the project accounts in accordance with ISA 805 (Revised), Special considerations – audits of single financial statements and specific elements, accounts or items of a financial statement.

Costs associated with the use of an accountant are incurred by the project, and must be included in the budget when relevant.

• The processing of the application follows a strict impartiality and confidentiality agreement. Read the declarations here.

  Selected experts from HMF’s Expert Committee and Board may access the application when it is assessed and submitted to the Board for consideration. In the application form, the applicant can specify the names of individuals and entities they believe are disqualified, and therefore should not have access to the application.
  

  Application processing procedure
  

  • Evaluation of the application: At least two employees at the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund assess the application. In addition, external experts with relevant knowledge are used:Applications up to and including 500,000 NOK: An external expert is involved only if the administration deems it necessary.Applications over 500,000 NOK, up to and including 1 million NOK: At least one external expert evaluates the application.Applications over 1 million NOK: At least two external experts evaluate the application.
  • Applications up to and including 500,000 NOK: An external expert is involved only if the administration deems it necessary.
  • Applications over 500,000 NOK, up to and including 1 million NOK: At least one external expert evaluates the application.
  • Applications over 1 million NOK: At least two external experts evaluate the application.
  • Decision: The administration in the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund compiles its own and external experts' evaluations, and presents the recommended allocations to the Board, which makes the final decision.
    

  Evaluation criteria
  

  When several qualified applicants exist in the same area, environmental benefits relative to cost, priority of the river, local affiliation, and the overall impact of the allocations will be decisive. The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund reserves the right to allocate the funds to achieve geographical distribution and distribution among several actors, while ensuring projects deliver high environmental impact according to the evaluation criteria.

  Initiation meetings will be held with all projects that receive funding.

• • Storelva/Arnaelva (Vestland)
  • Forsandåna (Rogaland)
  • Askerelva (Akershus)
  • Spandalselva (Troms)
  • Glomma from Sandesund to Fredrikstad (Østfold)
  • Upper Nestunvassdraget (Vestland)
  • Lower Nestunvassdraget (Vestland)
  • Oselva (Vestland)
  • Strynevassdraget (Vestland)
  • Søgneelva (Agder)
  • Skallelva (Finnmark)
  • Lierelva (Buskerud)
  • Vorma (Akershus)
  • Glomma from Årnes to Fetsund (Akershus)
  • Haukåselva (Vestland)
  • Sandnesbekken and Portvinsbekken (Finnmark)
  • Seutelva and Aagaardselva (Østfold)
  • Kárášjokha (Finnmark)
  • Reisaelva (Finnmark)

  Rivers based on the NORCE report from most polluted, moderately polluted to least polluted:Pollution LevelRiversHighStorelva/Arnaelva, Haukåselva, GlommaModerateLierelva, Sandnesbekken, Sygna, Portvinsbekken, NesttunelvaLowSpandalselva, Forsandåna, Askerelva, Oselva

• To ensure a thorough and effective cleanup of plastic litter, the cleanup should be carried out in accordance with the following guidelines:

  • Plastic litter along riverbanks (from the water's edge) and naturally adjacent areas should be cleaned.
  • Plastic litter over 2.5 cm located on land and can be picked up efficiently should be removed.
  • Visible plastic litter from the surface down to approximately 1 metre water depth should be removed if it is safe and practically possible.
  • Plastic litter that is partially buried in vegetation should be cleaned if it can be removed without fragmenting and spreading microplastics, and without significant impact on vegetation or fauna.
  • Concentrated accumulations of small plastics (under 2.5 cm) should be removed if it can be done efficiently with gloves or simple tools.
  • Areas that have been cleaned should leave a clean impression.
  • Vegetation and fauna should be negatively impacted as little as possible by the cleanup.

• Competence and experience must be documented in the application

  • The applicant must have experience in organising and carrying out similar cleanup projects.
  • The applicant must be familiar with environmental and conservation legislation, including the Biodiversity Act and the Pollution Control Act.
  • The applicant must have knowledge of waste management and disposal in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.
  • The applicant must be able to document a sufficient HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) system and procedures for the safe execution of the cleanup work.

  Consideration for nature and wildlife

  • The applicant must demonstrate sufficient competence to plan cleanup activities that comply with access restrictions and are not harmful to nature and wildlife, see report from BirdLife.