Results after 2 years of plastic collection in Breda

More than 60% of the residents of Breda do not or hardly participate in the collection of plastic packaging waste. A survey from late 2011 shows that 29% of residents (virtually) always separate plastic from other waste. In addition, 10% say they usually separate, but sometimes not. The remaining part usually or never separates plastic waste. It is striking that no less than 44% of the residents never separate plastic waste.

On 1 January 2010, the municipality of Breda, like most Dutch municipalities, launched a collection system for plastic packaging waste. Initially, 10 containers were placed, but that number was quickly expanded to 51. Due to delivery problems with the containers, a reasonable amount of plastic waste was only collected from March 2010. Keeping this startup period of 2 months in mind, it is striking that the collection result for the year 2010 (approx. 450 tonnes) does not differ much from the collection result for 2011 (approx. 530 tonnes). And that while 8 additional collection containers were installed in 2011. This makes it clear that the investment in extra infrastructure has hardly resulted in a higher yield yet.

In 2011, the efforts of the citizens in Breda resulted in a yield of 532 tonnes of plastic waste, which means 7.2 kilos per household. Sorting analyses by NL Agency show that an average Dutch household discards at least 50 kilograms of plastic packaging per year. The survey in Breda shows that 20% of citizens always hand in all plastic waste separately. This in itself should therefore already result in a collection of 10 kilos per household, in addition to the yield from citizens who usually or sometimes hand in their plastic. The difference between these figures could be the result of socially desirable answers in the survey. In any case, the collection result of the municipality of Breda in 2011 does not differ much from the average result of municipalities with a similar collection system and urbanisation factor in 2010! That was 6.6 kilos per household. Although the municipality is pleased that 'around 30% of the residents are already fully integrated into the system', there is still a lot to be gained for Breda. The municipality will therefore focus on communication towards citizens in 2012.

Environmental councillor Wilbert Willems of the municipality of Breda indicates that he will not invest further in the collection system for plastic packaging in his municipality. First, it must become clear what compensation the government will provide for the collection of packaging, he believes.

Sources:

1) 'Breda resident slowly getting used to collecting plastic waste', 30 January 2011, Breda Vandaag

2) Composition of household residual waste, results of sorting analyses 2010, NL Agency

3) 'Plastic collection screened again', March 2011, Recycling Netwerk

4) 'Packaging and deposits', 14 January 2012, blog councillor W. Willems

More than 60% of the residents of Breda do not or hardly participate in the collection of plastic packaging waste. A survey from late 2011 shows that 29% of residents (virtually) always separate plastic from other waste. In addition, 10% say they usually separate, but sometimes not. The remaining part usually or never separates plastic waste. It is striking that no less than 44% of the residents never separate plastic waste.

On 1 January 2010, the municipality of Breda, like most Dutch municipalities, launched a collection system for plastic packaging waste. Initially, 10 containers were placed, but that number was quickly expanded to 51. Due to delivery problems with the containers, a reasonable amount of plastic waste was only collected from March 2010. Keeping this startup period of 2 months in mind, it is striking that the collection result for the year 2010 (approx. 450 tonnes) does not differ much from the collection result for 2011 (approx. 530 tonnes). And that while 8 additional collection containers were installed in 2011. This makes it clear that the investment in extra infrastructure has hardly resulted in a higher yield yet. In 2011, the efforts of the citizens in Breda resulted in a yield of 532 tonnes of plastic waste, which means 7.2 kilos per household. Sorting analyses by NL Agency show that an average Dutch household discards at least 50 kilograms of plastic packaging per year. The survey in Breda shows that 20% of citizens always hand in all plastic waste separately. This in itself should therefore already result in a collection of 10 kilos per household, in addition to the yield from citizens who usually or sometimes hand in their plastic. The difference between these figures could be the result of socially desirable answers in the survey. In any case, the collection result of the municipality of Breda in 2011 does not differ much from the average result of municipalities with a similar collection system and urbanisation factor in 2010! That was 6.6 kilos per household. Although the municipality is pleased that 'around 30% of the residents are already fully integrated into the system', there is still a lot to be gained for Breda. The municipality will therefore focus on communication towards citizens in 2012. Environmental councillor Wilbert Willems of the municipality of Breda indicates that he will not invest further in the collection system for plastic packaging in his municipality. First, it must become clear what compensation the government will provide for the collection of packaging, he believes.Sources: 1) 'Breda resident slowly getting used to collecting plastic waste', 30 January 2011, Breda Vandaag 2) Composition of household residual waste, results of sorting analyses 2010, NL Agency 3) 'Plastic collection screened again', March 2011, Recycling Netwerk 4) 'Packaging and deposits', 14 January 2012, blog councillor W. Willems