Although ESANI A/S states that efficient waste collection has been started for the cities and settlements, according to Inatsisartut member Justus Hansen, Dmokraatit, there is still a long way to go before waste management reaches a satisfactory level. 

Karen Marie Kyed Frederiksen, Demokraatit, who is a member of Inatsisartut, has, in accordance with paragraph 37, wished to be informed about the status of the operation of the new incineration plant in Sisimiut.

Karen Marie

She also wants to know what plans the joint municipal waste company ESANI A/S and the municipalities have initiated regarding the collection of waste that has accumulated in cities and settlements.

Karen Marie Kyed Frederiksen, Demokraatit, who is a member of Inatsisartut, has, in accordance with paragraph 37, wished to be informed about the status of the operation of the new incineration plant in Sisimiut.

Karen MarieAnnouncement

She also wants to know what plans the joint municipal waste company ESANI A/S and the municipalities have initiated regarding the collection of waste that has accumulated in cities and settlements.

Although ESANI has informed Naalakkersuisoq for Social Affairs, Labour Market, Internal Affairs and Environment, Bentiaraq Ottosen, Atassut, that the nationwide waste management is taking place according to plan, member of Inatsisartut and the municipal council of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq Justus Hansen, Demokraatit, believes that the current situation is under all criticism.

In trial operation 

The municipalities are the primary authority responsible for handling and disposing of waste, whereas the Government of Greenland is responsible for ensuring the necessary legal basis and for following up on the further development of the waste area in close cooperation with the municipalities.

Naalakkersuisoq for Environment, Bentiaraq Ottosen, who has obtained a response from ESANI A/S, informs Karen Marie Kyed Frederiksen that ESANI’s incineration plant in Sisimiut is now under trial operation and commissioning, which means that the plant is already processing the full capacity of combustible waste, which is up to 70 tons of waste per day, and that the trial operation is expected to be completed at the end of June. The waste company also informs that ESANI can handle the total amount of combustible waste produced in this country using the new incineration plants in Nuuk and Sisimiut.

– An efficient waste collection system has already been started for the cities and settlements that have packed their waste. ESANI expects that the collection system will continue for the rest of 2025 and the following years, informs ESANI A/S.

Together with the municipalities’ operational departments, ESANI is also working to develop package solutions that can be implemented in cities and smaller settlements and meet the requirements that apply to the transport of waste.

Still unknown 

Karen Marie Kyed Frederiksen also wants to know how long it will take before more efficient waste collection is established throughout the country. ESANI adds that they are unable to state when the preparation of package solutions can be expected to be completed, as it depends, among other things, on how many municipal resources are provided.

– The collection frequency is adjusted continuously as cities and settlements implement packaging solutions locally. When the collection schemes are fully implemented, it is expected that cities will be able to dispose of packaged waste once a month, taking into account local storage conditions.

– The frequency for the smaller settlements depends on the population, but it is expected that collections will be made from the settlements three to four times per year, ESANI reports.

The Municipality of Kujalleq, the Municipality of Sermersooq, the Municipality of Qeqqata and the Municipality of Qeqertalik jointly own ESANI A/S, and this cooperation will promote the task of waste management that contributes to the Government’s objective of complying with the EU’s disposal requirements.

Although Avannaata Kommunia is not part of the ESANI collaboration, the municipality has entered into an agreement that ESANI Shipping’s bulk vessel North Viking will collect the waste for a fee. The waste will be sent to the incineration plant in Sisimiut.

Uacceptabelt 

According to the Waste Action Plan, which applies from 2020 to 2031, the political side wants to give waste management an extra boost and that this should be realized in cooperation with ESANI A/S. Naalakkersuisut finds it important that the municipalities allocate sufficient and qualified resources to local operations. If this does not happen, it will not be possible to maintain the system that has been set out in the decision on the common national waste solution, as stated in the Waste Action Plan, among other things.

And despite the fact that it has been about six years since ESANI A/S was established, these political objectives have not yet been achieved, says Inatsisartut member from Tasiilaq Justus Hansen.

– Although the start-up period for ESANI A/S seemed fairly satisfactory, in the past two years we have unfortunately learned that waste has accumulated in various places on the coast, and East Greenland is certainly no exception, which is unacceptable.

– ESANI management must also be better at informing municipalities and citizens about various waste initiatives and precise areas of work, he says.

According to Justus Hansen’s statement, Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq has investigated the possibilities for Tasiilaq to have its own incineration plant, but it has been determined that this is not possible, as an incineration plant of that size does not meet specific requirements for environmental protection and safety, including requirements for flue gas cleaning and temperatures.

Karen Marie Kyed Frederiksen, Demokraatit, who is a member of Inatsisartut, has, in accordance with paragraph 37, wished to be informed about the status of the operation of the new incineration plant in Sisimiut.

Karen Marie

She also wants to know what plans the joint municipal waste company ESANI A/S and the municipalities have initiated regarding the collection of waste that has accumulated in cities and settlements.

Karen Marie Kyed Frederiksen, Demokraatit, who is a member of Inatsisartut, has, in accordance with paragraph 37, wished to be informed about the status of the operation of the new incineration plant in Sisimiut.

Karen MarieAnnouncement

She also wants to know what plans the joint municipal waste company ESANI A/S and the municipalities have initiated regarding the collection of waste that has accumulated in cities and settlements.

Although ESANI has informed Naalakkersuisoq for Social Affairs, Labour Market, Internal Affairs and Environment, Bentiaraq Ottosen, Atassut, that the nationwide waste management is taking place according to plan, member of Inatsisartut and the municipal council of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq Justus Hansen, Demokraatit, believes that the current situation is under all criticism.

In trial operation 

The municipalities are the primary authority responsible for handling and disposing of waste, whereas the Government of Greenland is responsible for ensuring the necessary legal basis and for following up on the further development of the waste area in close cooperation with the municipalities.

Naalakkersuisoq for Environment, Bentiaraq Ottosen, who has obtained a response from ESANI A/S, informs Karen Marie Kyed Frederiksen that ESANI’s incineration plant in Sisimiut is now under trial operation and commissioning, which means that the plant is already processing the full capacity of combustible waste, which is up to 70 tons of waste per day, and that the trial operation is expected to be completed at the end of June. The waste company also informs that ESANI can handle the total amount of combustible waste produced in this country using the new incineration plants in Nuuk and Sisimiut.

– An efficient waste collection system has already been started for the cities and settlements that have packed their waste. ESANI expects that the collection system will continue for the rest of 2025 and the following years, informs ESANI A/S.

Together with the municipalities’ operational departments, ESANI is also working to develop package solutions that can be implemented in cities and smaller settlements and meet the requirements that apply to the transport of waste.

Still unknown 

Karen Marie Kyed Frederiksen also wants to know how long it will take before more efficient waste collection is established throughout the country. ESANI adds that they are unable to state when the preparation of package solutions can be expected to be completed, as it depends, among other things, on how many municipal resources are provided.

– The collection frequency is adjusted continuously as cities and settlements implement packaging solutions locally. When the collection schemes are fully implemented, it is expected that cities will be able to dispose of packaged waste once a month, taking into account local storage conditions.

– The frequency for the smaller settlements depends on the population, but it is expected that collections will be made from the settlements three to four times per year, ESANI reports.

The Municipality of Kujalleq, the Municipality of Sermersooq, the Municipality of Qeqqata and the Municipality of Qeqertalik jointly own ESANI A/S, and this cooperation will promote the task of waste management that contributes to the Government’s objective of complying with the EU’s disposal requirements.

Although Avannaata Kommunia is not part of the ESANI collaboration, the municipality has entered into an agreement that ESANI Shipping’s bulk vessel North Viking will collect the waste for a fee. The waste will be sent to the incineration plant in Sisimiut.

Uacceptabelt 

According to the Waste Action Plan, which applies from 2020 to 2031, the political side wants to give waste management an extra boost and that this should be realized in cooperation with ESANI A/S. Naalakkersuisut finds it important that the municipalities allocate sufficient and qualified resources to local operations. If this does not happen, it will not be possible to maintain the system that has been set out in the decision on the common national waste solution, as stated in the Waste Action Plan, among other things.

And despite the fact that it has been about six years since ESANI A/S was established, these political objectives have not yet been achieved, says Inatsisartut member from Tasiilaq Justus Hansen.

– Although the start-up period for ESANI A/S seemed fairly satisfactory, in the past two years we have unfortunately learned that waste has accumulated in various places on the coast, and East Greenland is certainly no exception, which is unacceptable.

– ESANI management must also be better at informing municipalities and citizens about various waste initiatives and precise areas of work, he says.

According to Justus Hansen’s statement, Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq has investigated the possibilities for Tasiilaq to have its own incineration plant, but it has been determined that this is not possible, as an incineration plant of that size does not meet specific requirements for environmental protection and safety, including requirements for flue gas cleaning and temperatures.