- Intro text: Autumn has begun, and that means we spend more time indoors. This is a good time to make your home cosier. Are you thinking about freshening up with paint or wallpaper? Both options have their pros and cons. But which choice is best for the environment and your home?
Autumn has begun, and that means we spend more time indoors. This is a good time to make your home cosier. Are you thinking about freshening up with paint or wallpaper? Both options have their pros and cons. But which choice is best for the environment and your home?
Paint and the environment
Paint is easy and quick to apply. Only, many paints are full of substances that are bad for the environment and your health. Most paint is made from oil and other materials that are not sustainable. This is not good for nature. Fortunately, there are eco-friendly paints, such as water-based or natural paints. These contain fewer harmful substances, are better for the environment and provide healthier air in your home. Keep in mind that even water-based paint often contains microplastics. These are small plastic particles that are harmful to the environment and animals.
Durable wallpaper
Wallpaper is a popular choice because there are many different colours and patterns. Yet not all wallpaper is equally eco-friendly. Some types are made from materials that are not as good for the environment. Fortunately, there are also more sustainable options, such as wallpaper made from recycled paper or natural fibres. This wallpaper often lasts longer and is better for the environment. Non-woven wallpaper is a super eco-friendly choice. It is made of materials that do not harm nature and it lasts for a very long time. Therefore, it is also a sustainable option.
What do you do with leftovers?
Do you have wallpaper or paint left over after doing odd jobs? Don't just throw it away. You can hand in old paint cans free of charge using your environmental card at the collection point for small chemical waste on the environmental street. Throw leftover wallpaper in the rubbish. Wallpaper does not belong in the used paper, because it contains glue and sometimes PVC (a type of harmful plastic) or other plastics. This way, you ensure that waste and raw materials are disposed of properly and help create a cleaner environment.
- Intro text: For many, reading is the best time to relax. But have you ever considered which option is better for the environment: a paper book or an e-book?
For many, reading is the best time to relax. But have you ever considered which option is better for the environment: a paper book or an e-book?
The benefits of e-books
E-books are more popular than ever. An e-reader can store hundreds of books and takes up less space. Yet producing an e-reader requires a lot of energy and raw materials, which can be harmful to the environment. Fortunately, this offsets if you read at least 25 e-books in 5 years; then the impact is lower than if you bought the same amount of paper books.
Paper books: Still a favourite
Paper books remain the favourite. But their production is not without consequences. Trees are felled, and making paper consumes a lot of energy and causes CO2 emissions. For 120 paper books, this amounts to 153 kilograms of CO2.
Which is more sustainable?
According to experts, an e-reader is more environmentally friendly if you read enough books on it. But if you only read books occasionally, or buy second-hand books, a paper book can be just as sustainable.
In short, both options have advantages and disadvantages. So the next time you pick up a book, consider which is the best choice for you and for the environment.
- Intro text: Products that you store properly stay good for longer, especially if you store them in the freezer. Avoid waste and find out how to make the best use of your freezer with handy storage tips.
Read more: The best storage tips for your freezer against wastage
- Intro text: Wondering how to cook a delicious dish at home waste-free? Our environment coach Nelleke takes you to star restaurant De Gieser Wildeman, where René Tichelaar shows you how to put a delicious dish on the table with an ingredient that most people throw away.
Read more: Learn waste-free cooking with celebrity chef René Tichelaar
- Intro text: What do you do with medicines you no longer need? Never throw medicines in the rubbish or flush them down the toilet or sink. This can have serious consequences for people and the environment. Dispose of them safely and responsibly.
Read more: Deliver medicines safely to pharmacy or environmental centre
- Intro text: If you store products correctly, they will keep for much longer. Avoid waste and find out how to store products best and keep them fresh for a long time with our storage tips.
Read more: The best storage tips for your fridge against wastage
- Intro text: Mosquitoes can be annoying, especially if you are outside or camping. Here are a few simple litter-free tips to keep mosquitoes at bay.
- Intro text: Moving house can be quite exciting and busy. You have a lot to arrange for your new place. But before you leave, you want to leave your old home tidy. We are happy to help you with tips on how to deal smartly with things and materials you don't want to move.
Moving house can be quite exciting and busy. You have a lot to arrange for your new place. But before you leave, you want to leave your old home tidy. We would like to help you with tips on how to deal smartly with things and materials you don't want to move. Follow these simple steps.
Step 1 | Sell, repair or give away stuff
Do you still have usable items you don't want to move, such as furniture, toys or clothes? Sell them, give them away or take them to a recycling centre. That way, you can do someone else a favour and reduce your waste. You can have broken appliances repaired or take them to the recycling centre free of charge using your environmental pass. For more information, visit waardlanden.nl/hergebruik-reparatie.
Step 2 | Separating waste and raw materials
Things that can be reused, such as paper and cardboard, glass and textiles, you throw away separately in the appropriate collection containers in your neighbourhood. Or in the raw materials containers near your home, if you have them. Dispose of hazardous waste such as old cleaning products, batteries and paint separately free of charge using your environmental pass. Anything that really cannot be recycled should be thrown in the residual waste container using the environment card. For more information, visit waardlanden.nl/waste-separation.
Step 3 | Bulky waste disposal or collection
If something does not fit in the residual waste container, it is bulky waste. You can take bulky waste to the waste disposal site using your environmental pass. You can borrow a free trailer from the waste disposal site. Or you can make an appointment online to have your bulky waste collected. Find out more or make a bulky waste appointment at waardlanden.nl/grofvuil.
You are not allowed to put rubbish and belongings next to the collection container. You pay high clean-up fees for this offence. See waardlanden.nl/clean-neighbourhood.
Step 4 | Leave containers at your property empty and clean
Do you have containers at your property? Have them emptied again before you move. Check the Waardlanden app or online waste calendar whenever possible. Do not use the containers after they have been emptied for the last time. Clean them and put the separated waste in a separate rubbish bag. You can dispose of these later in the collection containers nearby or at your new address.
Step 5 | The environmental pass remains in the home
The pass belongs to the property. You therefore leave the pass behind when you move out.
Step 6 | Arranging waste at your new address
If you move house, you must notify the municipality where you will be living. If you continue to live in a municipality or move to a municipality where we collect household waste, we will automatically be informed of your move. So you do not have to arrange this yourself. Find out more at waardlanden.nl/verhuizen.
Questions
Do you have a question about moving? Find answers to frequently asked questions about moving here.
- Intro text: A cat in the house almost certainly means a litter box. But did you know that it is important to dispose of everything from the litter box, even eco-friendly cat litter, in the residual waste? Find out why.
- Intro text: At home, on the road or at work: everywhere, we unwittingly use a lot of disposable packaging. By changing small habits, together we save a lot of waste. Also during a day out or an outing. These tips make it easy to avoid waste and hassle on the road.
At home, on the road or at work: everywhere, we unwittingly use a lot of disposable packaging. By changing small habits, together we save a lot of waste. Even during a day out or an outing. These tips make it easy to avoid waste and hassle on the road.
Bring a rubbish bag
You never know when you might come across a bin. Having a small bag handy makes it easy to keep your waste with you. Dispose of it later in a bin on the road or at home. This keeps nature clean and prevents littering.
Use your own bag
Before leaving, always put a sturdy bag in your backpack or car. Handy for groceries, snacks or small purchases. This way, you avoid extra plastic bags and take less waste home.
Opt for reusable
A water bottle, lunch box or tray saves piles of disposable packaging. Take them with you when you go out. Feel free to have snacks at the snack bar in your own container or fill your bottle at a tap. The more often we do this, the more resources we save together.
Prepare your own snacks
Having your own snacks or lunch in reusable containers prevents last-minute purchases in disposable packaging. Easy, tasty and waste-free.
Borrow what you don't need often
Going camping or having a party? First see if you can borrow stuff from family, friends, neighbours or through a sharing platform. This will save storage, costs and waste.
Clean up before you leave
Make your outing complete by bringing your own waste as well as picking up litter you find along the way. With the bag in your bag, you will be helping to create a clean environment for everyone.
With these simple habits, we enjoy every outing. Thus, step by step, we make reuse more natural - for ourselves and for the next generation.
