• Intro text: In a new edition of "Litter picker in the spotlight", we introduce Tim to you. Tim is 15 years old and helps keep his neighbourhood clean. "For a few years now, I have been making regular rounds through my neighbourhood to pick up litter," Tim says enthusiastically.

In this edition of "Litter picker in the spotlight", we introduce Tim to you. Tim is 15 years old and helps keep his neighbourhood clean. "For a few years now, I have been making regular rounds through my neighbourhood to pick up litter," Tim says enthusiastically.

Dream of becoming a rubbish collector

Tim has a big dream for the future: 'I would like to become a rubbish collector later and my dream job would be a workplace at Waardlanden. By picking up litter in my neighbourhood, I can already help Waardlanden a little and contribute to a cleaner environment.' Tim shows that you can make a difference at a young age.

'Just clean up your own mess!'

Tim is annoyed by people who just throw away their rubbish: 'I find it very careless of people to throw so much rubbish on the street. I would say to them: 'Just clean up your own mess!' He hopes people will pay better attention and throw their rubbish in the bin.

Deposits and a clean neighbourhood

Tim has found a clever way to earn a little extra: 'I keep the cans and bottles with deposit money separate. I return these to the shop. That way, I get something out of it too.' So Tim not only helps to keep the neighbourhood clean, he also earns a penny.

Help from Waardlanden

His efforts have not gone unnoticed. 'From Waardlanden, I received an extra-long waste grab. So now I can grab waste even better at ditches and bushes!' This allows Tim to do his job even better.

Tim's message to everyone

Tim has a clear message: 'I hope to continue this for a long time. But better would be if everyone just throws their rubbish in the bin.' Let's all follow his example and keep our environment clean.

Thank you, Tim, for your amazing efforts. You are a real hero in your neighbourhood!

• Intro text: From 9 to 15 September 2024 is Wastefree Week. Then, there will be a nationwide focus on waste-free cooking, buying and storing. Sign up for free tasty and educational activities that help prevent food waste.

From 9 to 15 September 2024 is Wastefree Week. This is when there will be a national focus on waste-free cooking, buying and storing. Together with ASVZ, Omnia College, Stichting Duurzaam Molenlanden and Syndion, we will organise free tasty and educational activities for residents that will help prevent food waste.

Why waste-free?

Together, we throw away too much food. We often buy more than we need, don't know how to use leftovers, or forget what is already in the house. This can be done differently. By being more conscious about food and managing your stock smartly, you will save money and help the environment. Together with our partners, we want residents to experience how delicious and versatile waste-free food can be.

You can register for the activities via this page. Be quick as the number of places is limited (maximum 2 people per registration). Full is full.

Free meals for residents

You can sign up for a free meal on site, made from leftovers and still good products that are often thrown away. Find out where and when you can eat a delicious waste-free meal for free.

Surprise lunch (Fully booked!)

You can no longer sign up for the surprise lunch, it is full. You can still sign up for the waste-free meal on 12 September.

When

September 11, 2024, 12.30pm - 2.30pm

Where

Restaurant "Teach Inn", W. de Vries Robbéweg 27, Gorinchem

What

Students from Omnia College's cookery course host a waste-free surprise lunch.  

Waste-free meal

When

12 September 2024, 17:45 - 19:30 (walk-in from 17:00)

Where

Servanda (The Ducdalf), Scheldt Street 1, Hardinxveld-Giessendam

What

Clients of ASVZ and Syndion serve a waste-free meal. There is room for 15 people.

Sign in

Free Fermentation Workshop (Fully booked!)

In the free Fermenting workshop on 18 September, participants will learn how to make healthy, tasty and new dishes themselves. Fermentation is an ancient technique that keeps food good for longer by adding bacteria or yeasts. This gives food a new taste and makes it last longer. Think, for example, of making yoghurt from milk or sauerkraut from cabbage. Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to register for this workshop. 

Useful tips for home

Keep an eye on our website and social media channels. During Wastefree Week, and beyond, we will share useful tips against waste. Join us in Wastefree Week and take a step towards a waste-free future together!

• Intro text: Fancy a sporting challenge that is also good for nature? Then join Clean Up on Tour Gorinchem on Saturday 21 September!

Fancy a sporting challenge that is also good for nature? Then join Clean Up on Tour Gorinchem on Saturday 21 September! A special clean-up action, where participants remove litter from the canals and waters from a supboard, such as cans and plastic bags.

Litter in water is dangerous for everything that lives there. By participating in Clean Up on Tour, you can help reduce litter in the water and ensure cleaner and healthier water, for yourself and for future generations. Taking part is not only good for nature, but also great fun. You will learn to supper, have fun doing sports on the water and make the world a bit cleaner.

Not been on a SUP before?

That's no problem. You will first receive explanations, tips and advice from an experienced sup instructor for along the way. Then, under the guidance of the instructor, you will remove as much litter from the water as possible. Afterwards, the litter will be weighed and disposed of via the waste disposal site. Last year, the tour was a great success. At that time, 101.6 kilograms were removed from the canals and waters of Gorinchem. Will you join in to collect even more litter this year and set a new record?

Useful to know

• Anyone aged 18 and above can join for free.
• All the necessary equipment, such as sups, grabs and bags, is provided. 
• Wear clothes that are allowed to get wet. Provide an extra set of dry clothes and a towel. 
• Number of participants: maximum 16 people.

Programme

Clean up on Tour morning

Clean up on Tour afternoon

 Also contribute to a sustainable future and sign up for Clean Up on Tour in Gorinchem. 

Sign in

• Intro text: In our region, there are many avid zappers who go out of their way to keep it clean and tidy. And some people go a step further. One of these people is Maarten Kerkhof.

There are many avid Zappers in our region who go out of their way to keep it clean and tidy. Some people go a step further. One of these people is Maarten Kerkhof.

Some 20-30 years ago, Maarten started picking up litter along the Lek River. He also collected litter from the grass at the Middelwaard recreation area for years. This was badly needed because otherwise it could not be mowed. Every morning he collected a rubbish bag full, often with the same products. Think of empty soda cans.

At the source 

And exactly that got Maarten thinking. Case in point: For a while, Maarten walked the same way along the dyke. There, on a certain stretch, he found a lot of plastic cups (coming from a coffee machine). To put it to the test, he walked a bit further the next time. There, the number of cups decreased. Walking back, he saw a construction company along the route. There Maarten stepped inside.

The positive approach

The owner of the construction company was ashamed of what had happened. Because yes, it was indeed the cups from his coffee machine. A sticker on the vending machine already helped for some awareness. Maarten stresses that it is important to start the conversation and stay positive.

Be proud

Maarten's advice to (new) litter pickers: Be proud and stay positive! Very early on, Maarten was ashamed to pick up litter. Until he thought: 'I clean up litter for someone else and not from someone else.' That made a world of difference to him.

To measure is to know

Maarten now works as a river waste monitoring employee at GoClean Netherlands. Because collecting data is very important. With the outcome of this data, we can put pressure on e.g. plastic producers on a national level. Would you like to record what you have collected yourself? There are several ways to do so. Just take a look at the following websites: Supporter of Clean and WePlog.

• Intro text: On Saturday, July 6, we will join Enjoycleaningup to trek through the four municipalities to clean up cigarette butts. Bits on the street and in the pit are super harmful to the environment and our health. You will help too, won't you?

Saturday, July 6, is PeukMeuk 2024, a major clean-up campaign of cigarette butts around the world. Butts on the streets and well are very bad for the environment and our health. Therefore, we call on everyone to join in and clean up our environment together.

What are we going to do?

On 6 July, we will join Enjoycleaningup in an RV to go through the four municipalities to clean up cigarette butts. Everyone is welcome to help. We will provide grabs and gloves, so there is no need for you to bring anything with you. We will put all the butts we pick up in a special transparent chair by artist Kees Dekkers. This chair shows how many cigarette butts are still on the street.

Fun activities

• Robotic dog: A smart robot dog helps find cigarette butts.
• Virtual reality: Children can use VR goggles to look underwater and see how much waste is in the ocean.
• Free pocket ashtray: Smokers will get a free pocket ashtray to put their cigarette butts in, to stop them ending up on the street.

Join us

Come to (one of) the four municipalities on 6 July and help us clean up cigarette butts. The programme is as follows:

• 09.30 - 10.30 am Grote Markt Gorinchem, in front of the museum entrance
• 11:00 - 12:00 shopping centre De Giessenhof Hardinxveld-Giessendam, between Albert Heijn and Primera
• 13.00 - 14.00 Kleyburgplein Nieuw-Lekkerland
• 15.00 - 16.00 market Leerdam

Ahead of PeukMeuk 2024: PeukMeuk pick-up evening in Hardinxveld-Giessendam

As a warm-up for PeukMeuk 2024, a few enthusiastic litter pickers are organising a PeukMeuk pick-up evening in Hardinxveld-Giessendam on Tuesday 2 July. Everyone is cordially invited to pick up as many cigarette butts as possible on this Tuesday evening at 19.30 at the Primera, Den Bogerd 30. Come and join the fun!

Together, let's ensure a cleaner and safer environment. Every cigarette butt we pick up counts.
Because cigarette butts on the street, that really can't be done anymore!

More information can be found on the campaign site: HeyViespeuk.co.uk.

• 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: 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: Captain of The Plastic Geurrilla Bram from der Wal is firmly and passionately committed to tackling pollution in our and our children's and grandchildren's future environment.

In the quiet and green Alblasserwaard, a group of people once got together with a mission: to fight litter in the beautiful region. This is how environmental initiative The Plastic Guerrilla (DPG) was born six years ago. DPG leader Bram from der Wal is firmly and passionately committed to tackling pollution in our region and the future living environment of our children and grandchildren.

Growing strength

Of course, it does not do so alone. Armed with grabs and rubbish bags, the environmental group, together with fellow fighters and supporters, holds clean-up campaigns in polluted areas in our region throughout the year. 'Because every piece of litter picked up, brings us one step closer to a cleaner place,' says Plastic Guerrilla warrior Bram. 'It is so nice to see new fighters signing up with every action. From town to village, young and old, all determined to fight for our common cause.'

Education and future fighters

Thus, The Plastic Guerrilla continues to grow into a force that is unstoppable. Apart from the clean-up campaigns, the environmental group also educates in schools and participates in school projects on the importance of a clean living environment. In this way, young warriors are also encouraged to change the world.

Join The Plastic Geurrilla

Take action too and join The Plastic Guerrilla! Don't be a spectator, but a participant in the fight against litter. Then children and grandchildren can grow up in an environment that is clean and healthy. Wondering when the next plastic guerrilla will take place and how you can join in? Follow DPG on Facebook or see plasticgeurrilla.co.uk.

This is how we are moving together towards a clean environment and waste-free future.

• Intro text: Today begins spring, time to make your outfits lighter and airier. Get rid of those thick jumpers and hello clothes that suit spring. But how do you do that in an eco-friendly way? We offer some tips. 

Today begins spring, time to make your outfits lighter and airier. Get rid of those thick jumpers and hello clothes that suit spring. But how do you do that in an eco-friendly way? 

Manufacturing new clothes is super bad for the environment because of all the water and chemicals it takes. That is why it is important to reuse your clothes as much as possible. Here are some tips: 

• Make your own clothes and accessoriesSewing and knitting are totally back. By making your own scarves and jumpers, you don't have to buy new ones ánd it's super fun to do.
• Pimp old clothesMake your old jumpers and t-shirts trendy again by decorating them with ecological clothing paint or iron-on patches. This will make them trendy again.
• Go for second-hand Check second-hand clothes shops or browse online for cool vintage clothes. It's not only good for the environment, but also for your wallet. Win-win! 
• Donate old clothes If you can't or no longer want to wear your clothes, give them to a second-hand shop. You can also dispose of your old clothes in a sealed bag in the textile container. Even broken clothes and worn-out shoes can be disposed of in the textile container. These can also be recycled. Dirty or wet clothing, with e.g. oil or paint on it, belongs in the residual waste. For more information on what belongs in the textile container, go to waardlanden.nl/textiles.

Whether you make your own clothes or buy second-hand, together we make the world a little greener and more stylish! 💚