30 percent more bulky waste and almost 40 percent more waste that was brought to municipal waste points: the corona crisis has posed a real waste problem to the municipality. The extra collection and processing of DIY waste, glass and cardboard has cost the municipality an additional 1.2 million euros, and that is only for the period up to 1 June.
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In a letter to the city council, Alderman Ivens (Cleaning) writes that the waste offered grew explosively when people were forced to spend a lot of time in and around the house due to the corona crisis. For example, there was a lot of work done and there were major cleaning. ‘In addition, what was needed for the various activities was often ordered via the internet and these things were delivered as a package in cardboard boxes. This resulted in a huge increase in household waste. ”
AT5 previously made the following report about waste collection at the beginning of the corona crisis.
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At the same time, Amsterdam residents became less tidy in offering all that waste, the alderman writes. Much more waste was placed next to the containers, while they were not yet full, and cardboard boxes were no longer torn and put in the paper container.
29 extra garbage truck
A total of 29 extra refuse trucks were used to process all the waste, 14 of which only collected cardboard. Waste was also collected more often, routes were adjusted, extra personnel were hired and waste explorers were deployed. Especially at the beginning of the crisis, the staffing at the collection service was not optimal, because employees were sent home preventively when they developed corona-related complaints.
The extra use of resources and the more frequent collection of bulky waste could not always ensure clean streets. At the beginning of June, Van Spilbergenstraat looked like a garbage dump. AT5 spoke there with the desperate catering entrepreneur Mustafa.
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In order to continue to cope with the waste problems in the coming period, the councilor has taken a number of measures. For example, extra enforcers are hired to check on the correct presentation of waste. Amsterdammers who do not comply with the waste rules can expect a fine sooner. In addition, there will be a public campaign to inform Amsterdammers of the waste rules.
In problem locations, full waste containers are emptied more often and additional waste is cleaned up more quickly.
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