• Intro text: The holidays are coming up. That means we will collect waste and raw materials on a different day in some places. We will also be closed during the holidays.

The holidays are coming up. That means we will collect waste and raw materials on a different day in some places. We will also be closed during the holidays.

Please note changed collection days

Due to the upcoming holidays, your waste may be collected on a different day. Check here whether we collect waste and raw materials in your locality on a different day.

Closure of waste recycling points and Waardlanden office

During the holidays, all waste recycling centres, Kringloopplein in Nieuw-Lekkerland and the Waardlanden office will be closed on:

• Intro text: We regularly put someone in the limelight who works for a cleaner neighbourhood. This time it is litter picker Dick Roodhorst from Ameide. Dick talks enthusiastically about what drives him and why he enjoys helping.

We regularly put someone in the limelight who works for a cleaner neighbourhood. This time it is Dick Roodhorst from Ameide. He has been picking up litter since he retired in 2021. This way, he enjoys being outdoors and being useful at the same time. Dick talks enthusiastically about what drives him and why he enjoys helping.

• Intro text: Each discarded Christmas tree earns 50 cents. You can hand in your Christmas tree at collection points on 3 and 4 January in your neighbourhood, or between 27 December and 11 January at the environmental centre or Kringloopplein using your environmental pass.

Residents of Gorinchem, Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Molenlanden and Vijfheerenlanden can earn a nice pocket money again this Christmas holiday. Every real Christmas tree - without wooden cross, pot, nails and decoration - earns a 50-cent reward. On 3 and 4 January, residents can hand in Christmas trees at central collection points in their neighbourhood. Prefer to hand in earlier or later? No problem. You can do so between 27 December and 11 January at the waste disposal points or at Kringloopplein in Nieuw-Lekkerland, using your environmental pass. 

Together with residents and contractors, we take care of the annual Christmas tree collection. Each clean Christmas tree, with and without root ball, will yield 50 cents again this year. From 50 Christmas trees onwards, payment is made by bank transfer. Nelleke Gouw, environmental coach at Waardlanden, says: "We encourage children to go into the neighbourhood with brothers, sisters, friends or girlfriends during the Christmas holidays and collect as many Christmas trees as possible. Not only is it a fun way to play outside and earn a pocket money, but it also helps keep the neighbourhood clean and tidy. Moreover, we ensure that Christmas trees are recycled in a sustainable way. So participating is not only good for the wallet, but also for the environment.' 

Drop off at nearby collection points 

On Friday 3 January and Saturday 4 January, you can hand in Christmas trees at central collection points in the neighbourhood.

Find an overview of all collection locations, moments and times per municipality, a handy map and the rules here.

Return to environmental centres with environmental card

Would you like to hand in your Christmas tree earlier? You may be able to arrange for children in the neighbourhood to hand in the tree for you. Can't, or do you just want to enjoy your Christmas tree longer? Between 27 December and 11 January, bring the tree to the environmental site or the Kringloopplein in Nieuw-Lekkerland. A reward of 50 cents per tree applies there too. Trees handed in before or after this period are not eligible for a reward. Don't forget to bring your environmental pass, as you cannot visit the environmental centres and Kringloopplein without one. Children under 12 years of age may only visit the waste disposal site when accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Christmas trees are not waste 

Do you have a Christmas tree with a root ball? Then you can also plant it in your garden after the holidays and use it again next year. Don't have a garden, no room in your garden or prefer not to have a Christmas tree in your garden after the holidays? Then always hand in your Christmas tree at a collection location or environmental centre. Do not throw your Christmas tree in the organic waste container. The resin from a Christmas tree cannot be composted. Do not set fire to Christmas trees either. Burning them releases harmful substances into the air. This is not only bad for the environment, but can also cause health problems in people. Collected trees are shredded. This reduces the emission of harmful substances. After shredding, the raw materials are recycled into compost or green gas. Christmas tree chips are also used as soil improvers and ground cover. So your discarded Christmas tree is not waste, but a valuable raw material.
The collection campaign is for residents only. Companies are excluded from participating. 

• Intro text: Celebrate Sinterklaas sustainably with our toy swap markets! In the run-up to Sinterklaas, we organise toy swap markets in the region together with local partners. Bring your unused toys and swap them for something new!

In the run-up to St Nicholas, together with local partners, we organise toy exchange markets in the region. On Thursday 14 November, there is a toy swap market in community centre Rozenobel in Gorinchem, organised in cooperation with the LimonadeBrigade. A day later, on Friday 15 November, there will be a second toy swap market at AanZet library in Hardinxveld-Giessendam. These swap markets offer a great opportunity to give new life to unused toys and to celebrate Saint Nicholas in an environmentally friendly and inexpensive way.

Toy exchanges

Do you have any good, clean and complete toys lying around at home that are not being played with? Then visit the swap market on 14 November in Wijkcentrum Rozenobel in Gorinchem or on 15 November in Library AanZet, in Hardinxveld-Giessendam and give your toys a new life. For each toy handed in, you will receive vouchers. With these you can pick out other toys during the swap market. Residents who only want to donate without bartering are also welcome. 

> find out more about the toy exchange market on 14 November at Rozenobel District Centre in Gorinchem

> find out more about the toy exchange market on 15 November at AanZet Library in Hardinxveld-Giessendam

Celebrating Saint Nicholas affordably and sustainably

Our environment coach Nelleke Gouw, explains: 'With these toy swap markets, we not only make the Sinterklaas festivities inexpensive, but also more sustainable. In many households, many toys remain unused while still in good condition. By swapping these toys, other children can be made happy and fewer new items need to be bought. This reduces waste and packaging, as well as the use of new raw materials, time and purchasing stress.

A celebration of sharing 

Toys left over after the swap markets go to the Toy Bank. Then other children can enjoy them too and St Nicholas is more fun, sustainable and for everyone. Please note that books and soft toys will not be accepted or exchanged.

• Intro text: With a whopping 23.8 kg of textiles per pupil, pupils from Eben-Haëzer School in Leerbroek stood out above the rest. 461 pupils from five primary schools participated and collected textiles fanatically between 30 September and 11 October. The result? No less than 4,769 kilos of textiles to be reused or recycled.

With an impressive average of 23.8 kg of textiles per pupil, the Eben-Haëzer School from Leerbroek is the big winner of the second edition of the Textile Competition in Vijfheerenlanden. From 30 September to 11 October, 461 pupils from five primary schools enthusiastically set to work collecting as many textiles as possible. The result? A whopping 4,769 kilos of textiles reused or recycled. 

Reward for commitment

Again & Co rewards each participating school with €0.20 per kilo of textile collected. For the winning school, this amount is even doubled. The school can use this for fun activities or donate it to a sustainable cause in the region. On 17 October, the Eben-Haëzer School received a cheque of no less than € 942.40, delicious cakes and a circular gift, presented by alderman Joop van Montfoort, education officer Ozan Cimen and Johan van de Zande of Opnieuw & Co.

Together against textile waste

Every year, we throw an average of 7 kg of textiles per person in the residual waste, which eventually ends up in the incinerator. It is harmful to the environment, with extra CO2 emissions and pollution of our earth. Councillor Joop van Montfoort said: 'The Textile Competition is a great way to fight waste and make a real difference. Children are the consumers of the future. They learn in a fun way about the impact of the garment industry on the environment and the importance of recycling. And how they themselves can contribute to a better environment by making more sustainable choices. With the Textile Competition, we ensure that valuable material does not go to waste. It gets a second life and saves raw materials. That's how we contribute to a more sustainable world.'

Give textiles a second chance

Do you have any textiles at home that you no longer use? Don't throw it in the residual waste. There are so many better options. Give reusable clothes, bags, sheets and cuddly toys to someone who can use them or sell them (online). You can hand in your textiles during opening hours at Opnieuw & Co Leerdam. Or bring it to the Kringloopplein in Nieuw-Lekkerland, a thrift or gift shop. And don't forget the special clothing fairs and swap markets. Or bring old textiles to the recycling centre or put them in the collection container for textiles in the neighbourhood. Even worn or broken fabrics can go in there.

Participating schools

Participating in the Textile Competition Vijfheerenlanden were: CBS De Ontdekking in Hei- en Boeicop, Fundament in Nieuwland, Eben-Haëzerschool in Leerboek, CBS Juliana in Leerdam and CBS De Rank from Meerkerk. 

About the Textile Competition

The Textile Competition was organised for the second time by Opnieuw & Co, Municipality of Vijfheerenlanden and Waardlanden. The aim of the Textile Competition is to reduce residual waste, increase recycling and give new life to raw materials. In addition, children learn about sustainability and recycling in a fun way.

• Intro text: Do you ever wonder in which waste bin a  product or material belongs? Our waste separation guide helps! You can now download it in as many as eight different languages. You can print it out and put it in a handy place at home. Then you will always know in which container to put your raw materials.

Do you ever wonder in which waste bin a  product or material belongs? Our waste separation guide helps! You can now download it in as many as eight different languages. You can print it out and put it in a handy place at home. Then you will always know in which container to put your raw materials.

With the campaign Nice and tidy we help residents further reduce waste and separate it even better. This way, less residual waste remains to be incinerated at high cost and as many raw materials as possible can be recycled. Proper separation of waste and raw materials is important to give a second life to as many materials as possible. This way, waste becomes raw material again. All help and tips we have collected for you on the campaign page.

Make waste separation easier

Not sure where something belongs? Then use the handy separation guide in the Waardlanden app. This way you always have all information about waste and raw materials to hand. Prefer a paper waste separation guide in another language? You can view the waste separation guide in as many as eight languages, download it and print it out if necessary. Then you can hang it up in a handy place at home and quickly see what belongs where. 

• Download the handy waste separation guide in Dutch
• Download the handy waste sorting guide in Arabic
• Download the handy waste sorting guide in English
• Download the handy waste sorting guide in Ukrainian
• Download the handy waste sorting guide in Polish
• Download the handy waste sorting guide in Romanian
• Download the handy waste sorting guide in Spanish
• Download the handy waste sorting guide in Turkish

• Intro text: A special creative project in Molenlanden and Vijfheerenlanden municipality. Pupils from primary schools in the neighbourhood give litter bins a new look. Something that not only makes the neighbourhood more beautiful, but also cleaner.

A special creative project in Molenlanden and Vijfheerenlanden municipality. Pupils from primary schools in the neighbourhood are giving litter bins a new look. Something that not only makes the neighbourhood more beautiful, but also cleaner! The municipality and Waardlanden work together with Cornelissen advertising in Molenlanden and with Kings of Colors in Leerdam on this special project, in which art is used for a cleaner environment. 

In 2024, Waardlanden conducted a study on litter. This showed that it is important to have enough litter bins that are clean and whole. Unfortunately, this is sometimes lacking, causing more litter. The "Pimp your Trashcan" project offers a solution by pimping up the litter bins and thereby making them more attractive. Through the brightly coloured bins, we encourage residents to throw their rubbish in the bins.

The makeover of dustbins: together with the neighbourhood

The wastebaskets in Leerdam were unveiled on Wednesday 18 September, in the week of World Cleanup Day. On Tuesday 15 October, it was the turn of Molenlanden municipality, where the first wastebasket at Kleyburgplein in Nieuw-Lekkerland was officially unveiled. The dustbins were transformed into true works of art. Pupils from the local primary schools made creative design drawings for the new bins. These designs were turned into beautiful works of art by graffiti artists and expertly sprayed on the bins. The goal? Trash bins that not only stand out, but are also a joy to use! Because throwing your rubbish on the street? That really is out of date.

Together we make a difference

This project shows how cooperation and creativity contribute to a cleaner environment. The enthusiastic reactions of the children, local residents and visitors to the shopping centre show that the project is a great success. Thanks to the efforts of the pupils, Kings of Colors, the municipality of Vijfheerenlanden and Waardlanden, the streets of Leerdam are not only becoming more beautiful, but also cleaner. Be surprised by the creative litter bins. Together, we will take the step towards a world without litter! 

• Intro text: It is Safety Week. Therefore, there is an extra focus on container presentation rules to ensure safe and smooth waste collection. You can help by putting your container on the road in the right way.

It is Safety Week. Therefore, there is an extra focus on container presentation rules to ensure safe and smooth waste collection. You can help by putting your container on the road in the right way.

Supply rules containers

Follow the offer rules below to ensure a safe and clean neighbourhood together.

• Intro text: Swapping clothes saves money and helps the environment. On Friday morning 18 October, LimonadeBrigade and Waardlanden will therefore organise a special clothes exchange market for children up to 12 years old. From 09.30 to 11.30 everyone is welcome in community centre Rozenobel at Dukatenplein 2 in Gorinchem.

Children grow quickly, so many clothes are still almost new when they no longer fit. Swapping clothes saves money and helps the environment. On Friday morning 18 October, LimonadeBrigade and Waardlanden are therefore organising a special clothing exchange market for children up to 12 years old. From 09.30 to 11.30 everyone is welcome in the Rozenobel community centre at Dukatenplein 2 in Gorinchem to exchange clean and tidy children's clothes free of charge. 

Nelleke Gouw, environmental coach at Waardlanden, explains: 'Spending a lot of money on new clothes is not necessary. A clothing exchange is a smart and sustainable way to get good clothes, completely free of charge. At the same time, we save raw materials and reduce the rapid production and disposal of clothes. This reduces CO2 emissions and less pollution of air, soil and water by microplastics.'

Returning clothes

Does your child have clothes that are too small? Then join the clothing exchange. Bring the clean and still neat clothes on Thursday morning 10 or 17 October between 9.30 and 14.30 to community centre Rozenobel, Dukatenplein 2 in Gorinchem. Can't make it on these days? No problem, you can also bring your clothes on the day of the swap market.  

How does it work?

When returning clothes, you will receive vouchers. You can use these to pick out other clothes at the swap market on 18 October. Don't forget to bring a bag for your new clothes. Clothing left over will go to local charities. Come along and join in. Together, we will ensure less waste and a cleaner environment. 

• Intro text: The end of October is the time of the branch route! You can register by phone to have up to 2 m³ of bulky garden waste collected free of charge. But be quick, because full is full!

The end of October is the time of the branch route! You can sign up to have up to 2 m³ of bulky garden waste collected for free. But be quick, because full is full! You can register by phone on working days on 0183 68 11 11.

The route

The branch route looks as follows:

• Monday, 28 October 2024 - Ameide, Hei- en Boeicop, Leerbroek, Leerdam, Lexmond, Meerkerk, Nieuwland, Tienhoven aan de Lek and Vianen.
• Tuesday, 29 October 2024 - Bleskensgraaf, Brandwijk, Goudriaan, Liesveld, Molenaarsgraaf, Nieuw-Lekkerland, Ottoland, Oud-Alblas and Wijngaarden.
• Wednesday, 30 October 2024 - Arkel, Giessenburg, Gorinchem, Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Hoogblokland, Hoornaar, Noordeloos and Schelluinen.

How does it work?

• Make a collection appointment for the branch route. Without an appointment, your bulky garden waste will not be collected.
• Place your bulky garden waste at the edge of the public road by 7.30am on the agreed day. Do not put it on your own property or near the collection containers.
• Make sure it is a maximum of 2 m³ and make handy bundles with sisal rope.
• Bundles may be up to 1.50 metres long and 25 kilograms in weight.
• Note: no stumps, grass sods, wooden poles, fences and boxes or bags of prunings.