Gripper in hand, garbage bag under the arm, and the atmosphere is immediately good. On Saturday, March 22, it is National Cleanup Day, but in Weesp, they cant wait. Two days earlier, about 25 residents and employees from various organizations roll up their sleeves: Weesp sets a good example.

The group is mixed: residents, office workers from the municipality, employees of housing corporation Ymere, and welfare organization Versa, and volunteers from Weesper CleanUp have gathered at the City Office.

District administrator Jan van der Does welcomes everyone. He opens with a smile: “Weesp scores well on litter, in the sense that we have little of it.” Then he becomes more serious. Employees of the municipality keep the city clean daily, but it is also important that office staff and other people working in Weesp contribute to a clean environment. Hence the choice to start two days before National Cleanup Day.

The sign-up lists are ready, routes are divided, groups are formed. With the sun at their backs and the rustling of garbage bags, the participants head into the city.

Between Panda Lights and Teddy Bears

Susan and Antsje are two of the pickers. They walk towards the station and the Poets Neighborhood. “It’s relatively dirty there,” notes Susan as she lowers her gripper to the ground. Among the bushes: a panda light. Not far away lies a furry teddy cushion on the sidewalk.

“This is almost a kind of therapy,” says Susan laughing as she pulls something from a hedge. “I thought Weesp was a bit cleaner.” “Yes,” says Antsje, who fishes a used vape from the sidewalk, “the longer you look, the more litter you see.”

Still, they speak with appreciation about their city. “Weesp still has a village character,” says Antsje. “People look out for each other and are really proud of their city,” adds Susan. “The big city is just more anonymous.”

Cleaning as a Monthly Habit

In the Poets Neighborhood, they encounter participants from Weesper CleanUp. Around an apartment building lies litter: pieces of Styrofoam, loose boards, and a collection of cigarette butts in the bushes. “People have made a sport of throwing butts out of the window,” grumbles Lineke, gripper at the ready.

She continues: “I get annoyed by trash on the street. But instead of getting annoyed, I can better do something about it.” Lineke has been helping to clean Weesp for years as a volunteer. “There are often more serious people in the group, usually a bit older,” she says. “But lately, there have also been some nice young men joining.”

A little further on, an older woman bends over plants she is planting next to her apartment. She looks up and thanks Susan and Antsje: “I really think it’s great that you’re doing this.”

From Suitcases to Broom Heads

At the end of the day, the groups come together again at the City Office. The yield is impressive: lots of cigarette butts, wipes, vapes, and candy wrappers, but also a large suitcase (“not a corpse, don’t be scared,” someone laughs), a single shoe, shoe soles, and the head of a broom.

A participant notes that fewer cans and plastic bottles have been found than in previous years. “Probably since the introduction of the deposit system.” Glass bottles are plentiful. “I definitely need to swing by the glass container later,” says Marleen, who co-organized the day and provides warm, homemade soup as a conclusion.

If Everyone Keeps Their Own Neighborhood Clean...

While enjoying soup, they chat for a bit. “I thought it was a very nice action,” says a participant. “Maybe we should do this more often per neighborhood. If everyone keeps their own neighborhood clean, we are already a long way.”

Cleaning Up All Year Round

Did you know that you can borrow grippers and rings from the municipality not just during National Cleanup Day? That can be done all year round. For this, check the page Borrow a litter grabber and litter ring.