Haarlemmermeer cuts residual waste by 34% with doorstep recycling bins
Residents of Haarlemmermeer have slashed their residual waste by over a third since 2021, thanks to a new waste separation policy. Personal recycling bins at home boost results, save costs, and earn high satisfaction ratings—proving small changes can make a big environmental and financial impact.
| Metric | 2018 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residual waste per resident (kg) | 223 | 147 | -34% |
| PBD waste collected per resident (kg) | 12 | 42 | +250% |
| Resident satisfaction (out of 10) | - | 8.2 | - |
| Cost per household (€) | - | 172 (bins) / 230 (shared) | -25% (bins) |
| Households yet to transition | - | ~9,700 | - |
The municipality of Haarlemmermeer is responsible for local waste management and environmental policies, including the implementation of the national 'Van Afval Naar Grondstoffen' (VANG) program. Its role involves designing systems to reduce waste, promote recycling, and minimize costs for residents.
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Haarlemmermeer residents separate waste more effectively: residual waste drops by more than a third
Residents of Haarlemmermeer are throwing away increasingly less residual waste since the introduction of the waste policy "Van Afval Naar Grondstoffen" (From Waste to Raw Materials, VANG) in April 2021. By properly separating waste at home, the amount of residual waste per resident has decreased by more than a third. A new evaluation shows that household waste bins work well. They ensure good separation results, high resident satisfaction, and lower costs.
The path to a fully circular Netherlands by 2050 often begins at the front door. In the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, the chosen strategy of having residents separate their own waste is paying off. This is also known as source separation. In 2018, a resident generated an average of 223 kilograms of residual waste (including bulky waste) per year. By 2024, this had dropped to 147 kilograms, a decrease of more than 34 percent.
The power of the household bin
Especially the separate collection of plastic packaging, cans, and drink cartons (PBD) is on the rise. The collection of these materials increased from 12 kilograms to 42 kilograms per resident. The evaluation shows that having a personal household bin is crucial in this regard. In low-rise neighborhoods where these bins are placed at the doorstep, residual waste even dropped to an average of 80 kilograms per person. Residents also give the system a high rating: an 8.2 out of 10.
In high-rise buildings, where shared collection containers are used, residual waste decreased by 28 percent, but the total remained significantly higher at 228 kilograms per resident. Central containers also more frequently face issues with waste being placed next to the bins.
Compliment to our residents
Councillor Sedee (Waste and Environment) sees the figures as a great compliment to the residents. "We see that our residents take waste separation very seriously. That is good for the environment and helps us to keep rising costs as low as possible," says the councillor. "Since the personal waste bins have proven to work so well in practice, we want to build on this success."
Councillor Sedee emphasizes the good separation behavior of residents: "Thanks to the efforts of our residents, we are keeping waste processing costs lower than they would otherwise be. Although the processing of nitrous oxide cylinders unfortunately leads to additional costs, proper separation with the household bins prevents the bill for households from rising even further."
A new standard for the neighborhood
Currently, there are still about 9,700 households where the new waste policy has not yet been implemented. This includes neighborhoods such as Floriande, the City Centre of Hoofddorp, Jansoniushof, Fruittuinen, and the Verzetsheldenbuurt. Parts of the villages of Lisserbroek, Haarlemmerliede, Halfweg, Penningsveer, Spaandam, and Spaarnwoude are also yet to transition.
The advice is clear: switch to the personal household bin wherever possible. This is not only beneficial for the environment but also for residents' wallets. In 2024, waste collection with personal bins cost an average of €172 per household, compared to €230 for shared containers. In new construction projects of more than 100 homes, the personal bin should also become the new standard.
The next steps
The municipality will investigate over the coming period how the transition in the remaining neighborhoods will take shape. Residents and local and neighborhood councils will be involved in this process. A proposal is expected to be submitted to the municipal council in the fourth quarter of 2026.