Waste from the bins is often collected in one large container. This means that the different bags are briefly placed together before being picked up, which gives the false that all waste is being mixed. But this is not the case. Each building has a designated space where waste is placed in separate containers, which are normally collected separately by different companies. This last part presents logistical challenges, especially in buildings located in the city center.

Oscar Circulair

That’s why, last month, a pilot project was launched with Oscar Circulair, a company that collects all waste at the same time. They do this using small electric carts. In the previous system, waste was collected by different companies on different days and at different times, using large trucks. With Oscar Circulair, everything is collected simultaneously, which is a great solution for city center locations. More than once, large trucks had trouble reaching these locations, causing delays in waste collection.

Valuable insights with new data

The pilot will run for six months, until the end of July. Three locations are participating: Oudemanhuispoort, Spinhuis, and Bushuis—the very buildings that are sometimes difficult to access. Another major advantage is that Oscar Circulair uses smaller containers and sometimes even crates for waste collection. This will allow us to get much more accurate data on the amount of waste we actually produce. Such data is valuable, as it is not only important to separate waste properly but also to reduce the overall amount of waste. Knowing our current status is key to improvement.

Shared mission and vision

Oscar Circulair’s mission and vision align well with UvA’s sustainability goals. Waste collection is emission-free, as the small carts are electric. Additionally, they only pick up full containers, making the process much more efficient. The collection is also carried out by people with a distance to the labor market, which fits well with UvA’s vision of inclusive employment.

Final thoughts

Proper waste separation remains crucial—after all, the more we can recycle, the better. Some common mistakes still happen, such as plastic bags around food ending up in the organic waste bin. Another example is metal cans, which now go with residual waste, whereas they used to be collected with plastic. Waste separation can sometimes be confusing, but the images on the bins help clarify things.

By separating our waste properly, we can all do our part!