• Intro text: The festive season is coming: a cosy time with good food and presents. Unfortunately, this also often results in extra waste. With a few smart choices, you can enjoy the festive season to the full - without unnecessary waste.

The festive month is coming: a cosy time with yummy food and presents. Unfortunately, that also often creates extra waste. With a few smart choices, you can enjoy plenty of holidays - without unnecessary waste. 

Give an experience

A gift does not always have to be something tangible. Give an experience: a day out, a workshop or a fun activity together. This will create beautiful memories, without any extra stuff.

Make something yourself

Still prefer something to unwrap? Make your own personal gift. Think of something delicious, a creative project or something handy for around the house. Home-made gifts are unique, save money and avoid packaging waste.

Swap or buy second-hand

There are still good toys or beautiful items lying around in many homes that are no longer used. Swap them with others or check out the thrift shop. You will often find almost new gifts for a small price - good for the environment and your wallet.

Packing

Wrapping paper looks festive, but it also creates a lot of waste. So choose reusable or natural materials to wrap gifts. Use cloth, an old box or leftover fabric instead of disposable wrapping paper. Do you have leftover wrapping paper? Save the best pieces for next year, use them for craft projects or turn them into decorations. This will give the paper a second chance and keep the party mood going for a while.

Reuse packaging

A lot of packaging material is often left over after (online) purchases. Don't just throw it away:

• Cardboard boxes: make them flat and small, then more will fit in the container.
• Bubble wrap or air cushions: reuse them or dispose of them at the pmd.*
• Styrofoam: small pieces with the residual waste, large pieces to the waste disposal site with your environmental card.
• Paper: Not all paper should go with the waste paper. Take the tear test:

• Does it tear easily? Then it may go with the waste paper.
• Does it not tear or shine strongly (film or plastic layer)? Then it belongs in the residual waste.
  Wrapping film is also always part of the residual waste.

Feel free to use packaging material again, for example to send something or to store fragile items. And if you are creative, turn it into something new - without glue or paint, so it can be recycled later.

Demand for less packaging

Do you order online? Choose shops that use less packaging material or merge packages. Do you book and collect from the shop? Then often no extra shipping box is needed. In any case, collecting from a local point reduces delivery kilometres and thus CO₂ emissions.

Make a wish list

Together with the children, make a list of what they really want. This will prevent premature purchases and allow for more targeted searching, so you spend less money.

Buy less, but more consciously

This year, choose quality over quantity. Go for a few valuable, durable items that will last for years.That way, you will reduce the waste mountain - even after the holidays. This is how we will go through the seasons together, step by step towards a waste-free future.

 https://www.waardlanden.nl/tips

*Do you live in a high-rise or low-rise building without a pmd container? Then you dispose of pmd and residual waste together in a collection container for residual waste in the neighbourhood. This waste is later sorted by machines.

• Intro text: A strong gust of wind or an autumn storm can blow over a container in no time. Litter then blows through the street, into the ditch or into nature. This is messy and dangerous. With a few simple preparations, you can keep your container and waste in place - all year round.

A strong gust of wind or an autumn storm can blow over a container in no time. Litter then blows through the street, into the ditch or into nature. This is messy and dangerous. With a few simple preparations, you can keep your container and waste in place - all year round.

Put your container outside safely

By placing your container correctly at the drop-off point, you help our drivers and prevent waste from being blown away:

• Place your container outside just before 7.30 am on the collection day. This way it will be by the side of the road for as short a time as possible.
• Make sure the flap is closed. That way, nothing will blow out.
• Don't put anything next to the container. It is not allowed and during storms it also blows into the neighbourhood.
• After emptying, remove the container from the road as soon as possible. Then it cannot blow over and the street is clear again.
• In doubt about the collection day? Check the waste calendar.

Prevent waste from blowing away

Loose materials or a light bag of plastic quickly blow away in storms when the container is emptied. Our drivers cannot always get out and clear loose materials due to safety concerns. Please help:

Always put rubbish in a tightly knotted rubbish bag. This keeps everything together and prevents loose and light waste from blowing into the street.

• For pmd, use a transparent bag that you tie securely. This way, our raw materials inspectors can immediately see whether your waste is properly separated.
• For VGF waste, use compostable bags with the Kiemplant logo or OK compost logo. Only these bags may be disposed of with VGF waste.

Together through the seasons

With these simple preparations, you will be ready for storms and high winds. Together, we will ensure less waste, a clean neighbourhood and a pleasant living environment. This is how we go through the seasons together, step by step towards a waste-free future.

Find more useful offer rules at worthlanden.co.uk/offer-rules.

• Intro text: Find out how to turn your garden waste into nutritious compost, all from your own garden. Learn practical tips for eco-conscious gardening and save money while contributing to a cleaner environment. Start your sustainable gardening adventure today!

Read more: Environmentally conscious gardening: making your own compost

• Intro text: Autumn is a great time to tidy up your home. Less stuff means peace and quiet at home and saves waste. Don't throw things away too quickly, but choose what fits: pass them on, repair them, swap them, sell them or - if there is no other way - take them to the recycling centre.

Autumn is a great time to tidy up your home. Less stuff means peace and quiet at home and saves waste. Don't throw things away too quickly, but choose what fits: pass them on, repair them, swap them, sell them or - if there is no other way - take them to the recycling centre.

Passing on: make someone else happy

Usable items do not belong in the residual waste. Make someone else happy with them or hand them in. You can bring furniture, crockery, toys, books and household goods to the recycling shop or the Kringloopplein. Clothes, shoes, coats, bags, sheets, towels, curtains and even cuddly toys belong in the textile container in the neighbourhood. Worn or broken textiles are also welcome, as long as they are clean and dry in a sealed bag. Do you have other usable items? Check out a gift shop or giveaway corner in your neighbourhood. This way you avoid waste and help others.2. Repair, exchange or sell

Repair, exchange or sell

Many items get a second life with a little intervention. Fix a loose chair leg, replace a zip or have an appliance checked at a workshop or repair café. Items that are still good but you no longer use can be exchanged or sold. Think of clothes, toys or appliances that quickly find a new owner via a swap afternoon, a local giveaway group or an online platform. This way, you avoid waste and make someone else happy.

To the waste disposal site: always welcome

Something doesn't fit in the container or is really no longer usable? Bring it to the environmental centre. You are always welcome with your environmental pass and you can come as often as you like. You never pay anything for most waste streams, even after several visits. These include electrical appliances, mattresses, textiles, paper and cardboard, glass, polystyrene foam (EPS), metals, cooking oil, nappies, small chemical waste, gas bottles and flat glass.

Only a few types of waste are subject to a fee. You can bring bulky garden waste, rubble, clean wood, impregnated wood, gypsum/cellular concrete, bitumen (roofing leather) and bulky household waste three times a year free of charge. From the fourth visit, you pay a small fee. You pay this directly by pin to our employee at the gate.

Residents of Vijfheerenlanden municipality do not pay to bring items to the environmental centres.

Free trailer loan

Lots to take away? Borrow a trailer free of charge from Waardlanden. You may use the trailer for a maximum of two hours and simply arrange it yourself via waardlanden.nl/self-regulation. This makes cleaning up and taking away to the waste disposal site a lot easier.

Handy tip: many items are made of different materials. Take these apart at home whenever possible. That way you can hand in more for free and raw materials are better recycled. This is better for the environment and saves costs. Load your car or trailer smartly. Put the same types of materials together. This way you can unload quicker at the waste disposal site and be on your way again quickly.

Smart sorting before you hit the road

Make it easy on yourself by sorting in advance. Put things in three piles: what you can pass on, what you can repair or sell and what really has to go to the waste disposal centre. Hand in textiles clean and dry, in a sealed bag. And always make paper and cardboard boxes flat and small. This saves space and prevents blockages in the containers.

Together through the seasons

By giving things a second chance and avoiding residual waste, you help create a clean environment and reduce waste. And what really can no longer be used, you can dispose of properly. This is how we work together towards a waste-free future. Together, we go through the seasons step by step.

 https://www.waardlanden.nl/tips

• Intro text: Autumn is a great time to get started in your garden. The leaves are falling and the wind is picking up. Many residents seize this moment to clean up the garden and get it ready for the coming months. With a few smart choices, you can keep your garden tidy and help reduce waste.

Autumn is a great time to get started in your garden. The leaves are falling and the wind is picking up. Many residents seize this moment to clean up the garden and get it ready for the coming months. With a few smart choices, you can keep your garden tidy and help reduce waste. This way, your garden stays healthy, and together we ensure a clean and pleasant living environment.

What do you do with all those leaves?

Leaves can go with the organic waste. Or use them as natural protection against frost. Scatter them around plants that are sensitive to cold, for example.
Leaves are also a good basis for homemade compost. By doing so, you turn garden waste into a rich nutrient medium for your plants. Want to make your own compost? Here is how:

Making compost 

Bulky garden waste: where can it go?

Not all garden waste fits or belongs in your GFT container. Rocks, thick branches, roots or pieces of wood, for example, do not belong there. You can take this type of bulky garden waste to the waste disposal site using your environmental pass. There, we process it properly so it can be reused. We are happy to list it for you:

• Coarse garden waste Use your environmental pass to take thick branches, tree stumps, roots and wood to the recycling centre
• Hard plastic from the garden Use your environmental pass to take watering cans, broken garden chairs or rain barrels to the recycling centre
• Small garden waste Grass, leaves, plants, small twigs and small quantities of earth or potting soil from flowerpots may be put in the GFT container
• Other small equipment Pebbles, hydro grains and broken flower pots belong in the residual waste.

Unsure where something belongs? In a separate blog article, we explain how to recognise bulky garden waste and where to take it. This way, you can always be sure you are doing the right thing and help create a clean and green living environment.

Garden waste: what belongs where? 

Keeping the neighbourhood tidy together A tidy garden not only means less waste, but also a nice neighbourhood. By properly separating waste and raw materials together and properly disposing of garden waste, together we contribute to a clean and safe living environment.

• Intro text: Managing your stock in the kitchen or pantry is important to avoid waste and cook smarter. We would like to help you get started with some handy tips that you can easily apply.

Read more: Organise your stock for less food waste

• Intro text: Now that summer is here and temperatures are rising, it is time for cosy barbecues and outdoor picnics. Unfortunately, these fun activities can also create a lot of waste. Fortunately, you can avoid this with these simple tips and still enjoy yourself to the full. 

Barbecuing is enjoyment - it can be done all year round and makes every meal extra cosy. With a few smart choices, you can keep your barbecue not only tasty, but also safe and waste-free. Together, we ensure a clean neighbourhood and give raw materials a new chance.

Opt for reusable

Instead of using disposable plastic or aluminium foil, use reusable plates, cups and cutlery. Just as nice and you can use them again and again. That saves a lot of waste. You will find lots of nice things at the second-hand shop. And do you need to cover something? Then reusable napkins or beeswax cloths work just as easily as foil. That is handy and better for the environment.

Buy and drink smart

As far as possible, buy your food without packaging or in larger packs. Fresh fruit and vegetables can often be bought loose, without packaging. This avoids a lot of waste. Marinate vegetables or meat at home in a reusable dish, then you won't need a disposable container. 
Even drinking can be waste-free. A jug of water with mint or lemon is easy to make and saves plastic bottles. Do you have an aerator? Then make your own soft drinks without disposable packaging. A refillable bottle works handy in the garden and on the go.

What do you do with food scraps?

After an enjoyable barbecue, there are often leftovers: some grilled vegetables, half a cob of corn, a piece of chicken or fish. You can just keep many of these leftovers. Put them in a container in the fridge and incorporate them into a salad, wrap or omelette the next day. You can even freeze bread and cooked meat for later. 
Leftovers that are no longer edible, such as bones, chicken carcasses, lemon wedges, vegetable peelings or fish bones? These belong in the organic waste container. This keeps your barbecue area tidy and prevents valuable leftovers from ending up in the residual waste.

Dispose of coal and ashes safely

Coal and ashes often remain hot for hours. Let them cool in a metal bucket with a lid for at least a day. Put the bucket on a stone surface, never in the shed or container. Only when everything is really cold throw the remains in a well-sealed bag with the residual waste. Coal and ashes do not belong in kitchen and garden waste - they contain substances that interfere with composting. 

Separate your barbecue waste properly

What remains is easily separable:

• Plastic packaging and cans belong to pmd.
• Clean paper may go with the waste paper.
• Greasy or dirty paper belongs in the residual waste.

This keeps raw materials clean and usable.

Enjoying together - in every season

Whether hot or cold: with a few conscious choices, you can turn any barbecue into a sustainable barbecue. This way, we enjoy eating outdoors all year round and together ensure a clean living environment.

For more tips, visit waardlanden.nl/tips

• Intro text: Is your home waste well organised too? With a few smart steps, you can avoid full bins, unpleasant smells and angry neighbours. So you can leave with peace of mind and come home refreshed.

Stuff packed, plants at the neighbours' and ready to go. But is the waste at home also well organised? If waste is left too long, it can smell or attract pests. With a few smart steps, you can avoid full bins, unpleasant smells and angry neighbours. So you can leave with peace of mind and come home refreshed.

Clean up a bit more

Holiday anticipation is a great time to tidy up at home. Stuff you no longer use? Take them to the recycling centre, the Kringloopplein or a charity shop. That way you leave feeling tidy and give things a second life.

Do not leave full waste bins behind

Especially in summer, waste can quickly become smelly.

• Before leaving, empty all bins in the house, especially the kitchen and garden waste bin.
• Do not put rubbish bags in the hallway or shed. This will prevent smells or pests when you get home.

Pay attention to what you put in the container

Don't just throw rubbish together to "fill up" the container just yet. Separate it well, even just before leaving. This way, raw materials stay clean and we can reuse them. This will also prevent your container from being left on collection day, as soiled containers will not be emptied.

Use the right bags

Always put waste in the right bag:

• Pmd and residual waste:see-through pockets and well buttoned.
• Gft: special compostable bags with the OK compost logo or the Kiemplant logo

Do not put loose bags next to the container, we will not take them.

Have your container emptied on time

Check the Waardlanden app or at landlords.co.uk When your container will be emptied.

• Place your container outside before 7.30 am on the collection day
• Remove container from the street the same day to avoid nuisance
• Note: do not put the container outside earlier than necessary.

Ask someone to help

Not at home on collection day? Ask a neighbour or acquaintance to take out your container and - just as importantly - to collect it again. A small effort, great convenience.

That way you leave without any worries and come home refreshed. Happy summer! 

For more tips, visit waardlanden.nl/tips

• Intro text: Do you have a holiday and will be taking a break soon? Then this is a great time to relax and do something good for the environment. With a few smart choices, you can also reduce your waste while on holiday. Have a nice summer!

Will you be taking a break soon? To a campsite, cottage, hotel or flat? Then this is a great time to relax and do something good for the environment. With a few smart choices, you can also reduce waste at your holiday destination.

Waste travels with you

What many people forget is that their waste often travels with them unconsciously. Disposable wipes, loose packaging, half shampoo bottles and plastic cutlery seem handy, but on holiday they mostly cause hassle. Not only in the bag, but also at the holiday address.

Waste is generated quickly, is difficult to get rid of - especially on busy campsites or in holiday homes without clear separation of waste - and regularly causes overflowing bins. That is why it is smart to think in advance about what you will and will not take with you.

What can you do?

Opt for less clutter on the go. Leave unnecessary packaging at home and think about what you really need.

Going shopping before departure?

Check what you still have in the house first. This way, you avoid wasting food and avoiding overflowing bins on holiday.

Leave unnecessary packaging at home

It saves space in your luggage, and you avoid having to throw something away every time you travel. A refillable bottle, a lunch box, some containers for leftovers: it makes a big difference.

With children on holiday

Going with children? Make waste separation or tidying fun. Give them their own water bottle or invent a scavenger hunt: who will be the first to find a can, a piece of paper and a plastic cap?
This is already a hit in some regions - litter picking as a holiday activity. Good for the neighbourhood as well as raising awareness.

Separating waste on holiday

Many campsites and holiday parks allow you to separate waste. Check this on arrival. Are there no separate bins? Then use a few bags or containers for paper, organic waste and plastic yourself. Throw it away separately en route or take it home with you. Small effort, big difference.

Every little step helps. So: what will you leave at home this summer? Perhaps exactly what you didn't really need on the road anyway.

For more tips, visit waardlanden.nl/tips

• Intro text: Did you know that all electrical appliances (with and without batteries), loose batteries and accumulators should always be returned separately? Help out and deliver your electrical waste, batteries and accumulators separately! 

Read more: Electrical waste, battery or accumulator? Do it separately!