- Intro text: What do you do with the oil after baking oliebollen? Avoid blockages and choose a sustainable solution: Turn it in!
New Year's Eve is a time to enjoy together - with oliebollen, appelbeignets and conviviality. But what do you do with the pan full of oil afterwards? Never throw it in the sink, toilet or rubbish bin. It causes blockages and is bad for the environment. Fortunately, there is a simple and sustainable solution: turn it in.
Keep the bottle
Before frying, set the empty oil bottle aside. Let the oil cool down well after frying and pour it back into the bottle. This will prevent messes and make it easy to take the bottle with you. Return full bottles at environmental centres or the Kringloopplein using your environmental card. Many supermarkets also have a collection point. Check frying fatrecyclehet.co.uk for a location near you.
Other oil is also part of it
Leftover oil from jars of sundried tomatoes, tuna or feta? Those don't belong in the sink either, toilet or waste bin. Collect them in an empty plastic bottle (with no deposit) and return it once the bottle is full.
Why submit?
Used oil and grease are recycled into biofuel. So you help reduce waste and together we start the new year clean and sustainable.
- Intro text: After an elaborate Christmas dinner, delicious leftovers are often left over. Don't throw them away! Use them to make surprising dishes or freeze them. That way you can enjoy the festive season even longer and contribute to reducing food waste.
The holidays - one cosy but often busy time. We quickly run to the shop for that one last present or those extra snacks. In the rush, we sometimes buy more than we need or forget what's left in the house. With a little attention, you avoid waste and save money.
Look first at what you already have
Before heading to the shop, take a look in your kitchen cupboard, freezer or pantry. There is often enough left in there for a festive dinner and stuff that can be used just fine. Make a list so you don't buy double and food spoils. That saves money as well as waste.
Smart and stress-free purchasing
Don't be tempted by offers or bulk packs if you don't finish them on time. Buy locally and adjust the quantities to the number of people coming to eat. That way, there will be less left over.
Make something tasty from leftovers
Are there still some leftovers? Don't throw them away. Make delicious French toast from old bread, soup from vegetables and a creamy stew from leftover potatoes. That way you get more out of what you already have.
Keep it simple with gifts
Last-minute giving something? Think consider a day out, a dinner, a voucher for an activity or something you make yourself. This is personal and does not cause extra stuff to remain.
Cleverly tidy up
Paper and cardboard left over? Always make boxes small and flat before putting them in the waste paper. That way the container does not get clogged and we can collect everything properly. Remove plastic filling material and tape - that belongs in the residual waste.
With small actions, you can make a big difference yourself. Together, we ensure less waste, a clean neighbourhood and a pleasant living environment. This is how we move through the seasons together - step by step towards a waste-free future
- Intro text: Festive and sustainable! Make your Christmas shopping greener with these practical tips for conscious shopping.
Christmas is a time of conviviality, but also a period when a lot is bought and wasted. By buying consciously, you can enjoy festive Christmas without a big impact on the environment. Here are some tips for sustainable shopping.
1. Buy locally
Support local shops and markets. By buying locally, you reduce the distance products travel. This means less transport, less CO2 emissions and less damage to the environment. Moreover, you often find unique gifts that you won't find in big shops.
2. Choose sustainable products
Choose gifts that are long-lasting, reusable, or made from recycled materials. Organic products, such as chocolate and wine, are also a conscious choice. These products often have a smaller carbon footprint and come from suppliers who act fairly. So you can be sure you are making a positive impact!
3. Avoid unnecessary packaging
Many Christmas products are over-packaged. Choose products without plastic or in recyclable packaging. Be creative with wrapping; use fabric or reusable bags instead of wrapping paper. This not only saves waste, but also gives your gifts a unique look!
4. Plan your Christmas meal smartly
Buy your food consciously. Buy no more than you need, and choose seasonal and local produce. This makes food fresher, tastier and less harmful to the environment. Moreover, you reduce the chances of having leftovers.
5. Give experiences as a gift
Not everything has to be tangible. Give an experience as a gift, such as a dinner, a day out, or a creative workshop. This will create lasting memories without leaving any waste behind.
With these small changes, you can make a big impact. Celebrate a cosy Christmas that feels good and does good for the world around you!
- Intro text: Is your paper container full and you don't know where to take the paper? No worries! Find out what you can do here.
Is your paper container completely full? Don't worry, there are plenty of ways to dispose of your waste paper and cardboard properly. In this article, we give useful tips as well as explain how you can help make paper collection run smoothly.
5 tips to properly dispose of your waste paper and cardboard
A full paper container can be annoying. You want to dispose of your paper and cardboard neatly, but what can you do when your container is full? Make use of these handy tips and make sure your paper ends up in the right place.
1. Make smart use of space
Do you have large cardboard boxes? Flatten them well and make them small before putting them in the container. This will fit in a lot more, and prevent the container from filling up quickly.
2. Take paper and cardboard to a nearby collection container
There are collection containers for paper and cardboard in the neighbourhood. These are often located near shopping centres, flats or housing estates. Here you can dispose of your paper and cardboard free of charge. This is useful when your own container is full.
3. Apply for an additional paper container
Do you often have more paper and cardboard than will fit in your container? No problem. Then you can get an extra 240-litre paper container for free applications.
4. Take paper and cardboard to the waste disposal site
You can also bring paper and cardboard to the environmental centre free of charge. Don't forget to bring your environmental card.
5. Make arrangements with your neighbours
On the day the paper containers are emptied, you can dispose of the paper in your neighbour's container, if there is still space there. Always discuss this with your neighbours beforehand. Make sure you make everything small and put it neatly in the container. This keeps the neighbourhood tidy and neat!
Together we keep the neighbourhood clean
Do not put paper or cardboard next to the collection container. Apart from the high clean-up costs for this offence, it also causes litter in the neighbourhood. Paper quickly gets wet and dirty or blows through the neighbourhood like litter. By returning paper and cardboard in the right way, together we keep the neighbourhood tidy and clean.
- Intro text: After a fun Sinterklaas evening, what do you do with all that wrapping paper? Not everything can just go with the waste paper. We share some smart tips on how to dispose of the paper in a sustainable way and reuse it.
After a successful gift night, the floor is full of wrapping paper. Before you take everything to the paper bin, it is a good idea to think about what can really be recycled. After all, not all wrapping paper belongs in the waste paper bin. We share some smart tips on how to dispose of paper in a sustainable way - and even some ideas on how to reuse it.
Recognise recyclable paper with the "tear test"
A simple way to check whether gift paper is recyclable is the "tear test." Try tearing the paper: if it tears properly, it may go in the paper bin. Paper types such as one-sided laminated paper or more luxurious wrapping paper with a slight glossy coating (e.g. an aluminium-like coating) can also go in the waste paper bin. Can't you tear the paper? Then it belongs in the residual waste. This also applies to wrapping film, which should always go in the residual waste.
Give wrapping paper a second life
Instead of throwing the paper away immediately, you can save the best pieces and reuse them. Here are a few creative ways to give paper a second life:Wrapping presents again: The sturdier pieces of gift paper can be saved for future gifts. By folding pretty papers neatly, you will have instant material for the next birthday or party.Crafts with children: Use leftover paper for craft projects. Make collages, decorate cards, or cut out shapes for Christmas decorations. This gives the paper a second chance AND it's fun to do together.Making your own decoration: You can easily make decorations such as flags, stars, or paper flowers from gift paper. Perfect for keeping the festive atmosphere in your home for longer.
Wrapping presents differently
Want to wrap gifts in an even greener way? Then consider a wrapping cloth, such as a nice piece of fabric or a scarf. No need to use disposable material. A wrapping cloth is ideal for all kinds of gift sizes, can be used over and over again and gives your gift a beautiful luxurious look. It gives wrapping an extra personal touch and contributes to reducing waste.
Recycled and raw gift paper, or even cloth wrapping cloths, are sustainable alternatives that make Sinterklaas, and other celebrations, even more eco-friendly. With these tips, you'll ensure that clearing out your gift-wrapping is fun and eco-friendly. Happy holidays!
- Intro text: Falling temperatures and night frosts can cause waste to freeze in your container, especially VGF waste. This can prevent your container from being fully emptied. We have 10 tips to prevent freezing.
As temperatures drop and it freezes severely at night, waste can freeze in your container. This is a particular risk with VGF waste. The waste then does not fall out of your container, or only partially, when we tip it over above the trolley. Coming back is impossible and also pointless, because the container remains frozen. This is annoying, especially if the container is already quite full. Therefore, check that the flap is not frozen and poke some loose waste yourself before offering the container.
10 tips to avoid a frozen valve or frozen waste
- In case of frost, hold the lid of your container slightly open with a stick or piece of cardboard.
- Smear some Vaseline on the rim of your container. This will prevent the lid from freezing.
- Put the container in a sheltered place during frost.
- Put newspaper or a layer of sawdust underneath in container.
- Leaf litter has a lot of moisture. During the time of frost, throw as little leaf and garden waste as possible into the container or do so only just before you want it emptied.
- Put the waste in the container as dry as possible.
- Mix GFT waste that is very wet with drier GFT waste.
- Loosen frozen waste on the inside of the container before putting it on the road.
- Do not push/stomp the waste too hard, otherwise the waste will freeze together.
- Only put your container on the street before 7.30 in the morning.
If you still have room in the container, you can also choose not to offer the container again until the next time.
- Intro text: The lights are on, the Christmas tree sparkles... but what if a bauble breaks or the lights stop working? Don't panic! Discover our handy tips for separating Christmas waste smartly and sustainably.
The holidays Its a time of lights, cosiness and being together. But after all this beauty, waste is often left over: packaging, decorations, leftover food... What do you do with it? With a few smart habits, you can keep it sustainable and tidy - at home and in the neighbourhood.
1. Broken baubles
A broken bauble looks like glass, but it does not belong in the bottle bank. Christmas baubles, baking dishes and (wine) glasses have a different melting point than container glass. Throw them in the residual waste. In doubt? Check the separation guide.
2. Lighting and decoration
Christmas lights that no longer work belong to electrical waste (e-waste). Dispose of them at a DIY store, electronics shop or with your environmental card at the recycling centre. Thus, valuable materials are reused. Decorative foam (oasis) from Christmas arrangements belongs in residual waste. Small twigs can go in the organic waste.
Tip: Store your Christmas lights neatly rolled up in a box, they will last longer next year.
3. Candles and ambient light
- Empty aluminium tubs from tea lights may be added to the pmd.
- Leftover candle wax? Reuse them or throw them in the rubbish.
- Cutting foam or plastic decoration is also part of the residual waste.
4. Food and drink
After all that deliciousness, there are often leftovers. Don't just throw them away.
- Make soup or a casserole from leftovers.
- You can store leftover drinks in sealed bottles.
- Food waste without packaging may be put in the GFT container - including the turkey carcass
5. Gift packaging
Paper, ribbon and boxes quickly pile up.
- Keep good and beautiful boxes separately to use again. And make boxes which you no longer use small and flat before you dispose of them with the waste paper.
- Remove plastic tape and filling material: that belongs in the residual waste.
- Is it wrapping film or tear it paper not good? Then it belongs in the residual waste.
Clean together into the new year
After the turn of the year, there is often Fireworks waste on the streets. Help clean up. Together, we will ensure a fresh start to the year. Want to help out in the neighbourhood? Borrow a waste grabber for free via milieucoach@waardlanden.nl. This is how we keep the neighbourhood clean together and start the new year fresh. With small actions, you can make a big difference yourself. Together we 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.
- Intro text: Most kitchen cupboards are often full of chemical and pricey cleaning products. Use these eco-friendly recipes to make your home shine.
- Intro text: Discover smart tips to celebrate Sinterklaas consciously and inexpensively this year. From giving experiences to sustainable wrapping: make Sinterklaas a party full of fun, without unnecessary packaging.
St Nicholas is coming again. A cosy time with presents. Unfortunately, this often also results in a lot of unnecessary packaging. We share some smart tips to celebrate Saint Nicholas more consciously and economically this year.
Tips for a smart Christmas season
By swapping smartly, reusing and thinking more sustainably, you will not only make Saint Nicholas more economical, but also better for the environment. Join in this year and make conscious choices that you will enjoy for a long time to come.
- Experiences instead of stuffThis year, give experiences as a gift, such as a fun day out. These are memories children will enjoy for years to come, without any extra stuff in the house.
- Make your own presents Still prefer to give something tangible? Handmade gifts are personal and valuable. Think about making something delicious or a creative project. This is not only cheaper, but also much more sustainable. You avoid packaging waste and save on the raw materials needed for new products. In this way, you are helping to create a better environment.
- Swapping toys instead of buying them Why buy new toys when you can exchange unused toys? Many homes still have perfectly good toys that are no longer being played with. Find a toy swap market near you, and swap for 'new' toys at no extra cost. This way, you will not only surprise the children, but also save money.
- Second-hand toys Not only swap markets, but also thrift shops, gift shops and online platforms, such as Marktplaats, offer plenty of choice in second-hand toys. You can often find toys there in excellent condition for a small fraction of the price. It's a win-win situation: less production of new stuff and more space in the wallet.
- Sustainable packing Wrapping paper often creates a lot of waste. Therefore, opt for more sustainable options such as a reusable wrapping sheet. This way, you can wrap your gifts sustainably time after time - without extra waste. You can also use a nice tea towel or a box that you reuse.
- 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.
- Intro text: Did you know that more than 40% of our residual waste consists of food waste, fruit, vegetable and garden waste? Good news! If you collect that GFT separately, much less residual waste remains. Good for the environment and your wallet. Discover useful tips and make a difference!
