The traces of 100 years of coal production must disappear. The area must appear as unaffected as possible, which, according to the developer Store Norske, means that both buildings and infrastructure must be removed. The work is called one of the most ambitious environmental projects in Norway, and is financed from the state budget. Recycles plastic pipes As part of the clean-up work, 4,000 tonnes of waste is on its way to HRS in Narvik. The plastic is sent on to the small company Oceanize on Ottersøy in Nærøysund municipality. They have taken up the fight against the environmental problem, and recycle plastic waste from the aquaculture and agricultural industries. Now Oceanize will recycle the plastic pipes from Sveagruva. – This is national value creation, and involves a significant reduction of the plastic problem. It’s a win-win for everyone. That’s what André Christensen says, acting general manager of HRS Miljø AS. Project manager in Oceanize, Tormod Steen, shows off the large pile of black plastic pipes. – The plastic pipes were originally used to transport diesel and water in the mine. It has long since been discontinued, and the area will now be returned to nature. 6.5 kilometers of pipe ends at Oceanize on Ottersøya in Nærøysund. Photo: Espen Sandmo / news When the brown industry is discontinued, it provides fertile ground for green growth. The plastic resources from Svea must now be safeguarded, recycled and established in traceable circular value chains. Many more plastic pipes are on the way. Saves the environment In total, Oceanize will receive 6.5 kilometers of pipes. That means approximately 900 tonnes of plastic – or around 30 million soda bottles if you like. – What do you do with the pipes? – These pipes will be ground down, and further go through a granulation process. This plastic granulate replaces new, virgin plastic in a number of products both in the construction industry and in the aquaculture industry, says Steen. Trude Vareide Giskås, Øyvind Sandnes and Tormod Steen have no doubts: the fact that they recycle the plastic from Sveagruva is important for the environment. Photo: Espen Sandmo / news He believes that plastic recycling is an important contribution to the green shift. – This is extremely important for the environment. By recycling plastic, we reduce the need for new, virgin plastic. We prevent it from being incinerated or exported. It produces large CO₂ emissions, so the climate and environmental reduction is significant. Mining in Svea In 1917, the plant was founded by the Swedish company Aktiebolaget Spetsbergens Svenska Kolfält. Store Norske bought Sveagruva in 1934 for NOK 1 million. At most, there were 400 employees in Svea, which is located deep in the Van Mijenfjorden on Svalbard. The last litter came out of Svea Nord on 8 April 2016. By then a total of approx. 32 million tonnes. It was in connection with the state budget for 2018 that the Storting decided to wind down mining in Svea and Lunckefjell. Source: Store Norske Project Manager Trude Vareide-Giskås holds out a hand full of plastic granules, to show what the pipes will soon be transformed into. – We have an annual capacity of 5,000 tonnes of plastic granules. The aim is to reach 30,000 tonnes. Here, Trude Vareide-Giskås shows the plastic granulate that will also be used for the pipes from Svalbard. Photo: Espen Sandmo / news – It’s no longer rubbish we’re talking about? – No, we are talking about resources here. New products The Nærøysund company is the largest in this field in Norway, according to founder Tom Richard Hamland. He started with plastic collection from the aquaculture industry 25 years ago, and does not hesitate to call this a green industry. – We try to go all the way with plastic. I think that is important for the circular economy. We collect the plastic, which is turned into new products at the other end. Founder Tom Richard Hamland started with plastic collection from the aquaculture industry 25 years ago. Photo: Espen Sandmo / news One of the products they make is large plastic sheets, which can be used in the construction industry. – The plates can be welded together, or cut out and used back in the farming industry. The plates are made from 100 percent recycled aquaculture cages. The tubes from Svalbard can be used in the same way, says Hamland. The pipes are of very good quality, particularly because they have been exposed to little sunlight on Svalbard. – They are thick and little affected by the external environment. The tubes can be easily recycled and turned into new products. Oceanize consists of the two subsidiaries Containerservice Ottersøy (COAS) and Norwegian Plastic Recycling (NOPREC). They have a total of 60 employees. Photo: Espen Sandmo / news
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Oceanize in Nærøysund receives tons of plastic pipes from Svalbard when the mining community is returned – news Trøndelag
