• Intro text: Do you have inflatable items you can no longer use? Don't throw it away with the residual waste! From July to October, you can once again hand in your summer inflatables free of charge at our environmental centres using your environmental pass.

It's time again to enjoy the summer days at the beach, pool or a lake. But what do you do with those broken inflatable toys? From 1 July to 31 October, you can hand them in at our environmental centres for free recycling with your environmental pass. 

A second chance for broken inflatables

Last year, together we collected 1,500 kilos of broken inflatable gear. Let's continue this success and give those items a second chance this summer as well. By handing them in separately, they can be recycled into valuable raw materials for new products, such as garden hoses, shoe soles and more. 

Why hand in separately?

Broken inflatable objects often end up in the regular rubbish or bulky waste, but they are easy to recycle. So help and dispose of them for free in the special containers at our environmental centres during the summer months. Don't forget to bring your environmental card!

What is allowed in it?

All inflatable soft PVC items you use at the beach or pool are welcome. Think beach balls, swimming bands, small pools and inflatable figures. Please note that air mattresses without a velour or velvet layer are also allowed, but balloons and large inflatable pools are not. 

Together we are creating a cleaner and litter-free region! Will you join us?

For more tips, visit waardlanden.nl/tips

• Intro text: The paper delivery point will change in a number of streets in Nieuw-Lekkerland. Residents of these streets will be sent a letter informing them of this change by post on 13 June.

In Nieuw-Lekkerland, we will start collecting paper from a fixed collection point in a number of streets. Residents of these streets will receive a letter informing them of this change by post on 13 June.

What changes where?

The paper containers of residents of the Segboerstraat (odd numbers only), P. van der Veldestraat, G. Verstegenstraat, W. van Zijlstraat we will from Wednesday 26 June emptying from fixed collection points. In these streets, waste paper and cardboard are collected every fourth Wednesday evening of the month by a regular group of volunteers from youth association Dutch Reformed Church in the evening together with us. To do this as quickly, well and safely as possible, our drivers drive a new route along fixed collection points.

Why a fixed offer site?

In the evening hours, many parked cars make it difficult for our drivers to empty paper containers, especially in narrow streets. This can cause delays in collection and can even lead to unsafe situations and damage. Our drivers can collect paper containers better and safer in the evening from a delivery point, because there are no cars parked there.

Paper container sites

Retrieved from this map shows with red markings where the delivery points for paper containers will be located from Wednesday 26 June onwards. from Wednesday 26 June are for these residents.

Note! The new drop-off point is for the paper container only. Do you live in Segboerstraat (the odd numbers only), P. van der Veldestraat, G. Verstegenstraat, W. van Zijlstraat? Then you may deposit your  You can also leave your GFT and PMD containers on the road as usual. These containers are emptied during the day, when few cars are parked and our drivers can empty the containers properly and safely.

Presentation rules paper container

By properly placing your paper container at the delivery point, you help our drivers and volunteers empty the containers as properly, quickly and safely as possible.

Do not park cars near the drop-off site on collection days.

Place the container with the opening facing the road. Then the valve opening will fall back closed after emptying and no paper will end up on the street.

The lid of your container should be closed, that way we prevent litter. Flatten boxes, so more will fit in the container.

• Intro text: Do you want to separate your fruit, vegetable and garden waste and food scraps without suffering from nasty smells, fruit flies and maggots? Discover here four handy tips to ensure your GFT container stays clean and fresh.

Food waste, fruit, vegetable and garden waste are valuable raw materials that can be made into biogas and compost. These tips will help you avoid unpleasant odours, fruit flies and maggots:

Tip 1: Put a newspaper on the bottom

Put a newspaper on the bottom of the GFT container to prevent sticking.

Tip 2: Make sure there is no plastic with it

Use only compostable bags for GFT.

Tip 3: Pack food waste smartly

Wrap bones, bones, meat and fish scraps in newspaper. This prevents odours and maggots.

Tip 4: Freeze food leftovers until collection day

Freeze meat and fish scraps until collection day, this prevents unpleasant odours and maggots.

For more tips, visit waardlanden.nl/tips

• Intro text: The collection day for paper will change in a large part of Haarwijk-Oost in Gorinchem. We will send these residents a letter by post on 11 June informing them of this change.

In a large part of Haarwijk-Oost, we will collect waste paper and cardboard on a different day. We will send these residents a letter by post on 11 June informing them of this change.

What will change?

Paper collection in much of Haarwijk East was always every first Saturday of the month. That will be changed to every third Friday from Friday 21 June of the month. 

 Note ->  Please always put your paper container at the collection point before 7.30 am. The collection days of VGF and PMD containers will not change.

Why a different collection day for paper?

For many years, a regular group of volunteers from Wandelsportvereniging de Haartippelaars joined us in collecting paper in a large part of Haarwijk-Oost. As they are stopping this and Waardlanden is taking over, the paper collection day is changing.

Do you live in the Haar district but are unsure whether this change applies to you?

You can find your personal waste calendar. On this calendar, you can see when we collect your waste and raw materials. In our app, you can set it to notify you when one of your containers can be taken away. Then you will never forget. We also share important messages there, such as changes in the collection routes or collection days. And you can quickly and easily make reports and a bulky waste appointment. Don't have our app yet? Download the app then in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).

• Intro text: Ton van Maanen, board member of Waardlanden, placed the first sticker on the collection container for residual waste on the Markt in Leerdam on Thursday 30 May. The sticker provides access to information on how we can work together to keep the neighbourhood tidy, clean and safe.

At the request of the municipalities of Gorinchem, Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Molenlanden and Vijfheerenlanden, a sticker has been developed for the residual waste collection containers. The sticker provides access to information on how we can together keep the neighbourhood tidy, clean and safe. Ton van Maanen, board member of Waardlanden, placed the first sticker on the residual waste collection container on the Markt in Leerdam on Thursday 30 May.

QR code for practical information and help

Thanks to many residents and the efforts of environmental coaches and neighbourhood supervisors, the region is already much cleaner in many places. Yet sometimes there is still ambiguity about what is and is not collection containers is allowed. And some residents do not know that waste next to a collection container is not allowed. Board member Van Maanen: 'If you take the QR code on the sticker scans then you can find more information on various topics on Waardlanden's website. The information can be automatically translated into other languages, such as English, Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian and Turkish.' Residents discover more:

• How to prevent and separate waste at home.
• What you can do if the collection container is full or has a malfunction.
• Where you can go with stuff that should not or does not fit in the container.
• What you can do if the environmental card doesn't work.
• How to make a bulky waste appointment.
• How we keep the neighbourhood clean together by putting rubbish ín the collection containers and not putting anything next to them.
  

Preventing secondary placements

Putting rubbish next to a collection container is prohibited. Besides the high clean-up costs for this offence, collection containers can be difficult or sometimes not even emptied. Side deposits give a messy streetscape and are bad for the safety and public health of a neighbourhood. They create litter, pests and dangerous situations. Moreover, they lead to loss of resources. Van Maanen: 'To prevent byplacements, it is important that the collection containers work properly, that the surroundings are clean and tidy and that residents know what is expected of them.'

Nice and tidy

With the campaign Nice and tidy we pay a lot of attention to preventing waste and separating waste and raw materials even better at home, so that less residual waste remains. Waardlanden and the municipalities are continuing their efforts to reduce waste. On the Waardlanden website smart tips, blogs, videos and a handy separation guide on how to separate raw materials even better at home and avoid residual waste. There is also a fun quiz To determine what type of waste separator you are. And you can get tailored tips.

• Intro text: As a company or school, do you have old electrical appliances, batteries or bulbs that you can no longer use? Don't throw it away but hand it in!

Thanks to a collaboration with Wecycle and our partner KoreNet, companies and schools in the region can hand in their old electrical appliances, batteries and bulbs in a safe and environmentally friendly way, free of charge. The returned appliances are recycled into new raw materials. In this way, together we ensure a waste-free and clean region! Will you recycle with us?

Give electrical waste a second life

Does your company or school have electrical waste and want to give it a second life? For more information visit www.waardlanden.nl/bedrijven.

• Intro text: The Week Without Waste has begun! From Saturday 25 May to Friday 31 May, we will prevent unnecessary waste and separate it as best we can for reuse and recycling. With these tips, you can help!

The Week Without Waste has begun! From Saturday 25 May to Friday 31 May, we will prevent unnecessary waste and separate it as best we can for reuse and recycling. With these tips, you can help!

Tip 1 Join the circular revolution!

Stop throwing away empty drink cans and small plastic bottles. Turn them in at the supermarket or other drop-off points. That way, you won't throw money away, but earn an extra penny. And you help the environment at the same time! Recycled cans are made into new cans and plastic is turned into toys. Together, let's contribute to a sustainable future and make sure we can reuse raw materials.

Tip 2 Give your device a second life!

Don't just throw away broken appliances. With a little help, you can often fix them. YouTube is full of helpful instructional videos and websites like Jafix and iFixit offer step-by-step manuals. Prefer professional help? Visit our website to find a Repair Café near you! Is the appliance really beyond repair? Then you can hand it in when you buy a new, similar appliance. Or dispose of it free of charge at one of our recycling centres. Nice and tidy!

Tip 3 Beauty without waste

There are super many sustainable choices for disposable products. From reusable cotton pads to recyclable toothbrushes and even shampoo in soap bars without plastic packaging. Small choices make a big difference! Join us and choose sustainability in your daily grooming routine. Out with disposable, hello reusable!

Tip 4 Stop food waste starts with you

Stop food waste and save money with the Too Good To Go app! Every day, restaurants, supermarkets and cafes throw away good food just because it's left over. With Too Good To Go, you can buy that food at a bargain price and help reduce waste. And do you want to waste less food at home too? Use handy kitchen tools like foodhuggers to keep your fruit and vegetables fresh for longer! That way you can enjoy your favourite snacks for longer.

Tip 5 Discover the power of washable nappies

Save hundreds of nappies and help the environment with washable nappies. And start potty training early for your little one. Washable nappies are just as easy to use and much more comfortable for your baby. Plus, they are environmentally friendly and save you money! And don't worry if you want to use disposable nappies once in a while, you can collect them separately in special disposal bags for baby nappies and use your environmental card to hand them in for free at our recycling centres. Find out more at waardlanden.nl/babyluiers

Tip 6 Sharing and borrowing: a new way of consuming

Share and borrow for a greener world and to save money. From tools to clothes, there are countless opportunities to share and borrow stuff, helping us produce less waste together. Discover useful tips and concrete steps to get started today. Read this article.

For more tips, visit waardlanden.nl/tips

• Intro text: In our region, there are people who really do something for a cleaner environment. Ricardo Stuurman is a good example. He cleans up litter in Gorinchem and the surrounding area. In this way, Ricardo contributes to a cleaner neighbourhood for all of us.

In our region, there are people who really do something for a cleaner environment. Ricardo Stuurman is a good example. He cleans up litter in Gorinchem and the surrounding area. In this way, Ricardo contributes to a cleaner neighbourhood for all of us.

Walking with a purpose

'I help to clean up litter because I think it is important for us to have a clean neighbourhood,' Ricardo explains. 'I enjoy taking walks and it feels good to do something for our neighbourhood right then.' Thus, he turns his walks into a kind of mission to keep the neighbourhood clean.

Bicycle and litter pick-up

Even when Ricardo is on his bike, he pays attention to litter. 'If I see litter, I clean it up,' he says. For him, it is normal to help keep the environment clean wherever he is.

Ensign municipal clean

Ricardo also talks about his name, Ensign municipal clean. 'Under this name, I clean up litter. I like that,' he says proudly. The name fits well with what he does and makes it even more fun.

Ricardo encourages others to also do something for a cleaner neighbourhood. 'Just start, all small actions help. Together we can achieve a lot!'

• Intro text: We are proud to present our 2023 digital annual magazine. In this magazine, we would like to take you through the events and results of a special year full of challenges, highlights, but unfortunately also with difficult moments and sadness.

We proudly present our annual magazine 2023, in which we look back on a special year full of challenges, highlights and efforts leading up to the introduction of the new waste and raw materials policy.

In the annual magazine, you can read more about our services, the key facts, employees talk about what the changes mean for their work and you can read more about the joint commitment of our employees, partners and associates to a clean environment and a waste-free future.

> Find out more in Waardlanden's annual magazine 2023

Happy reading!

• Intro text: From 20 April to 27 April, it is Second-hand Textile Week. Did you know that the textile industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world? Together, we can make a difference.

Did you know that the textile industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world? Together, we can make a difference. After all, if you donate second-hand textiles, they don't have to be made new. It's much better for our planet!

So, do you have textiles or clothes you no longer wear? Give it a second life by modifying them, giving them away, swapping them, selling them, or handing them in at the textile container in your neighbourhood or at the environmental centre. This is how we contribute to positive change together!

Did you know that not only clothes belong in the textile container?

Besides clothes, other clean, dry, good, as well as worn and broken textiles are also allowed in. Such as: bedding, curtains, towels, stuffed animals, pieces of fabric, shoes, bags and belts, scarves and hats, cloth tablecloths and kitchen towels!

Let's work together for a more sustainable future! Not just this week, but throughout the year. 💚