Wicked problem: Small household waste besides the underground residual waste containers
Topic: Liveable city
Expert: Michael Wilson, projectmanager Aanpak zwerfvuil
Household waste collected
The Hague is a clean city. This is partly due to the use of underground residual waste containers (ORACs) to collect household waste. There are now 4900 ORACs in the outdoor space in The Hague where residents can deposit their waste every day of the week. This avoids bin bags from being placed unnecessarily on the street and prevents dirt, litter and the associated problems with vermin. Users rate the collection system via ORACs with a good 8. Residents also indicate that the outdoor area has become much cleaner due to the use of ORACs. The ORACs are thus also very important to ensure that The Hague is a clean city.
Correct use of containers
Unfortunately, not everyone uses the waste containers correctly. Sometimes people place waste next to the containers instead of depositing it in the container or taking it to a waste recycling centre. This is a nuisance and an irritation. We want to tackle this by structurally reducing the number of locations where such dumping takes place and to prevent new hotspots wherever possible. This is a long-term approach. Dumping requires constant attention. This is also the experience of other cities.
Half of the waste dumped next to the ORACs is small household waste. The other waste consists of bulky household waste (8%), bin bags (5%) and other waste (40%: cardboard, paper, kitchen and garden waste and chemical waste). In principle, the ORAC works well, but waste is also dumped beside them.
I would like to invite the young entrepreneurs to develop an innovative and realistic solution.
No weekly collection
The dumped small household waste does not belong in the ORAC nor does not fit in ORAC. Before the arrival of the ORAC, such small household waste, for example a draining board, was often taken away with the weekly bin collection. However, since the arrival of the ORACs, the weekly collection of waste on a fixed day has disappeared. Residents can now take their household waste free of charge to a recycling centre. Anyone who is not in a position to do so can arrange for it to be collected free of charge, either online or by phone. If this is small household waste, there is still a profit to be gained.
Lower the amount of waste
How can we lower the percentage of small household waste being dumped next to the residual waste containers?
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