Texel residents face rising waste costs: how chipped bins and recycling could save money
Texel is tackling soaring waste disposal charges by introducing chipped bins and stricter recycling rules. Residents could see lower costs if they reduce residual waste, with a target of just 30kg per person annually by 2030—down from over 200kg today.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Waste charge increase | 19% rise between 2013–2020; projected 26% by 2025 without action |
| Resident survey | 655 respondents (35.3% response rate); De Hamster rated 7.8/10 |
| Recycling Plan start | Phase 1 launched in 2024 to improve waste separation and cut costs |
| 2030 target | Max 30kg residual waste per resident/year (vs. 200kg+ in 2025) |
| Chipped bins | All containers tagged to track waste streams and reduce grey bin use |
| Collaboration | Texel partners with Leeuwarden to streamline waste charge administration |
| Cost-saving measure | Proper separation reduces incineration taxes and disposal fees |
The municipality of Texel oversees local waste management policies, including disposal charges and recycling initiatives. As part of its circular economy goals, it implements measures to reduce waste and ensure fair cost distribution among residents and businesses.
Read the full translated article below
Research into waste disposal charges on Texel: working together to reduce waste and manageable costs
The costs of collecting and disposing of household waste have been rising for years, both in the Netherlands as a whole and on Texel. This is reflected in the increasing waste disposal charges. Between 2013 and 2020, the price rose by 19%. Without action, this charge would have increased by 26% by 2025. For this reason, the municipal executive commissioned research into the waste disposal charges on behalf of the municipal council. Alderman Rikus Kieft, responsible for the Circular Economy: “Texel still had plenty of room for improvement when it came to waste disposal charges. With the implementation of the Recycling Plan starting in 2024, a significant boost has been given to this improvement. Less residual waste, more insight into waste streams and manageable costs are now within reach. I would like to express my gratitude to the residents who contributed to this research.”
Research: effectiveness and service of HVC waste collection
The research was conducted by an independent research agency and had two main objectives:
- To gain insight into whether the waste disposal charges are working properly (is everyone paying their fair share?) and whether they are structured in a smart and effective way.
- To assess how well and efficiently the public waste company HVC carries out waste collection and service provision.
To clarify these points, various research methods were used, including document analysis, interviews, and a residents' survey.
Residents satisfied with De Hamster
The questionnaire was sent to 1,854 residents, of whom 655 responded, a response rate of 35.3%. This provides a reliable picture of Texel residents' opinions. The survey also examined how residents dispose of their waste and their satisfaction with De Hamster, our waste drop-off station. Most participants rated De Hamster with an 7.8 out of 10. The friendliness of the staff, their expertise, and short waiting times were particularly appreciated.
Significant improvements needed: on the right track
The research shows that the administration on which Texel’s waste disposal charges are based can be greatly improved. With the implementation of the Recycling Plan, which began in 2024, the municipality is taking major steps to get the basics in order. This is also the title of Phase 1 of the Recycling Plan, which was established in the summer of 2024. Texel aims to produce less residual waste and improve waste separation: proper waste separation saves money, while residual waste costs money—and increasingly so. This way, waste is no longer seen as waste but as a raw material that can be reused. It also ensures that everyone pays for the disposal of their own waste. Less residual waste also means lower incineration costs (such as incineration tax).
Chipping waste containers and closer collaboration
By 2030, each resident may produce a maximum of 30 kilograms of residual waste per year. In 2025, Texel is still just above 200 kilograms. To achieve this, all waste containers have been chipped, and we will be collecting more types of separated waste more frequently while reducing collections of the grey bin. This is expected to lead to larger quantities of properly separated waste and less residual waste.
The results of these adjustments will be presented to the municipal council in due course so that it can decide whether and how Texel residents who put significant effort into proper waste separation can further reduce their costs. These adjustments will give us better insight into waste streams and allow us to target our efforts more effectively. We will also gain more clarity on tourist/business waste versus household waste. In addition, the municipality of Texel is working closely with the municipality of Leeuwarden, which handles our waste disposal charges. The recommendation to collaborate more closely to improve implementation will also be followed here. In this way, we keep Texel clean, contribute to a better environment, and keep the costs of waste processing as low as possible.
Want to know more?
View the full Recycling Plan and stay informed via our website: www.texel.nl/van-afval-naar-grondstoffen