By separating your waste properly, you'll have less residual waste. But how can you easily do this? Did you know you can start doing this in your kitchen and bathroom? In this blog post, we'll explain several different terms. What does organic waste (GFT) mean? What goes in the residual waste? And where do (small) electrical appliances and batteries belong? We'll also give you handy tips on how to easily separate waste to reduce residual waste.
What is organic waste?
Gft is vegetable, fruit and garden waste and comes mainly from the kitchen. Think of vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds, tea bags, fish bones, and small bones. But also flowers, plants, grass, and leaves. Paper towels (without printing) with food scraps or leftover juice can also go in the organic waste bin. But be careful: packaging from meat, fish, or cheese does not belong in the organic waste. Don't throw plastic, paper, or other waste in the organic waste. This disrupts recycling and can end up in nature and water via compost.
What is PMD?
PMD stands for plastic packaging, metal packaging, and beverage cartons. This waste comes primarily from kitchens and bathrooms. Think of empty plastic bottles, cans, yogurt cartons, aluminum trays, tin cans, and plastic packaging for things like sauce or shampoo. PMD consist of valuable raw materials from which new products are made.
Tips:
- It's important to only dispose of packaging as plastic, metal, and other recyclable materials (PMD). Hard plastic and polystyrene belong at the recycling center or with the residual waste.
- Keep packages separate so the installation can separate them.
- When storing cans, bend the lid inward.
- Make sure the packaging is as empty as possible. Rinsing is not necessary.
- Flatten beverage cartons and screw the caps back on. This saves a lot of space in the container.
- To prevent litter, it is important that you collect PMD in a bag and throw it away in a bin.
- Please note: there is a deposit on plastic drinking bottles and cans.
In a low-rise building, you have a separate PMD container for separating your PMD at home. Do you live in an apartment, an upstairs apartment, or a low-rise building without a PMD container, such as in a neighborhood like Giessenburg and Bilderhof, or in the center of Gorinchem, Leerdam, or Vianen? Then, after the introduction of the environmental pass, you will dispose of your PMD and residual waste together in the residual waste container. All PMD containers will be phased out. We will collect this waste separately, and our waste processor will separate your PMD and residual waste afterward. So, be very careful to separate your organic waste correctly so that the wet organic waste doesn't stick to your residual waste. If you separate it correctly, PMD can be removed more easily and efficiently from the residual waste without, for example, food scraps sticking to it. This way, you can be sure that your PMD is recycled as effectively as possible. If you empty and flatten the packaging properly, you can fit more PMD in your residual waste bag.
residual waste
Non-recyclable waste such as diapers, cat litter, coffee cups and broken drinking glasses can be disposed of at the residual waste (gray container or garbage bag). This waste is then taken to a waste-to-energy plant. There, the residual waste is incinerated. This generates energy for electricity or district heating. After incineration, usable metals can still be recovered from the ash. Some of the ash residue is used in road construction.
Do you live in a high-rise or low-rise building without a separate PMD container? Then your waste is first sorted mechanically: recyclable materials such as plastic, beverage packaging, and metals are removed.
(Small) electrical appliances and batteries, where can you throw them away?
Batteries are covered by small chemical waste small chemical waste (kCA). Batteries contain harmful substances that can harm the environment and even cause fires. Therefore, never throw them away with residual waste, but return them to shops, supermarkets, and many primary schools. Approximately 95% of the nickel, cobalt, and copper in batteries can be reused. Batteries also contain other fully recyclable metals, such as zinc, iron, and steel. Zinc is used for gutters, steel for nails and wire, and nickel is used for new batteries.
You can return broken appliances free of charge when you purchase a new, comparable appliance or at one of our recycling centers. The collected appliances are processed in an environmentally friendly manner. Most materials, such as steel, aluminum, copper, plastics, glass, wood, and polyurethane powder, can be reused to make new products. Small electrical appliances can be returned to collection bins at various hardware stores, electronics stores, and supermarkets. You can also take them to one of our recycling centers. recycling centers to take.
Tip:: Give a working device a second life by taking it to a thrift store to bring or sell via the internet. Or have a broken device repaired at a repair caféThere are two exceptions: you shouldn't give away or sell old refrigerators, freezers, and dryers because they consume too much energy. It's better to take them to the recycling center (also consider renting a free trailer) or have them picked up by appointment.
Easily separate waste in different areas
Separating waste doesn't have to be difficult. There are several easy places to start:
- Kitchen: Place a separate kitchen bin for organic waste and a bag or container for PMD and residual waste. Make sure these are clearly labeled so everyone in the house knows where their waste and raw materials should go. Or use special solutions so you only need one bin for different types of waste.
- Bathroom: Place a small bin for empty shampoo and shower gel bottles and other plastic packaging. Note: Razors are often plastic, but should be disposed of with the general waste. Of course, preventing waste is even better; consider a shampoo bar or reusable cotton pads.
- Living room and workspace: Set up a recycling bin for newspapers, magazines, and other waste paper and cardboard. You can also read your magazine or newspaper online. This reduces waste paper and thus prevents waste.
By separating waste in these places in your home, waste separation becomes a habit and you can easily maintain it.
Get started with the Waardlanden app!
With these handy tips, you can immediately start separating waste in the kitchen and other areas of your home. Remember that proper waste separation helps reduce residual waste and recycle more valuable resources. Still not entirely sure where your waste and resources belong? Then check the Waardlanden app or our comprehensive separation guide.
Together we ensure a cleaner and more sustainable world!
For more tips, visit waardlanden.nl/tips