Would you like to be part of the 2023 environmental watch?

A partnership project between the local council and community organisations for the upkeep of the town's open spaces.

The Municipality of Hafnarfjörður never stops its environmental watch. The „ENVIRONMENTAL WATCH“ project is about the upkeep and beautification of the town, and the aim, as ever, is to raise residents' environmental awareness, make the town more beautiful and increase cleanliness. Associations and groups in Hafnarfjörður are offered the opportunity to monitor the environment, i.e. to undertake the cleaning of a designated area, in return for a grant of 150,000 for cleaning a specific area twice a year.

Only twelve groups get through each time.

Hafnarfjörður has been divided into twelve areas. In each area, the emphasis is on clearing litter and rubbish from main paths and roads, streams and ponds, the coastline, natural lava fields, and open and green spaces. The groups that are selected will clean their area twice a year, once between 1 May and 1 June and once between 1 and 30 September.

Environmental Watch Regionalisation

Who can be on duty?

All clubs, associations and groups in Hafnarfjörður are invited to apply to take part in the Environmental Watch. There is one group per area, and a total of twelve groups can partner with the town on the project. When allocating areas, the composition of the group and the nature of the area, i.e. how accessible it is, will be taken into account. Each group must have a leader who will liaise with the council's Environment and Planning Department and arrange, in consultation with them, when and how the clean-up will be carried out. If groups composed of children or young people apply to participate (e.g. junior sections of sports clubs or scout troops), the condition is set that the group leader and a responsible adult must be an adult, and furthermore that adults work with the children during the clean-up. The reason for this is primarily safety, as the clean-up will take place in areas where hazards may be present, such as near roads, streams and the coast.

The accompanying information for group applications must state the following:

• Name of the association/organisation/group
• The main aims and purpose of the association
• A brief report on the activities of the past 3 years
• Number of members and age distribution (children, teenagers and adults)
• Who will do the work (if it's a children's/youth group, who will be working with them)
• How to use the strength
• Any requests for areas, if any
• Name and details of the group leader (address, telephone, email address)

Staff from the Environment and Planning Department of Hafnarfjörður supervise the work and implementation in each area, assess how the work is being carried out, and make recommendations for improvements as necessary, as well as arranging for the rubbish to be disposed of. Rubbish bags are available from the Hafnarfjörður Service Centre at Norðurhellu 2, should groups request them.

The application deadline is 15 April 2023. Applications should be sent to: ishmael@hafnarfjordur.is

Further information is available from the town's customer service on 585-5500 and from Ishmael David: ishmael@hafnarfjordur.is