Amsterdam takes extra measures against litter in crowded areas

Alderman Hester van Buren (Waste) announced in a council letter on Wednesday that the municipality of Amsterdam will take extra measures to combat pollution in busy areas. Temporary above-ground containers will be placed in the city center, sweeping will take place immediately after the collection of waste bags, and more enforcement officers will check for waste nuisance. The measures will last three months. "After this period, we will see whether they are needed for longer," said the alderman.

Van Buren thinks that the city is still too dirty. "We share many residents' frustration about this, particularly in the city center during the tourist high season. Collecting is more difficult there, and the deposit refund problem that causes a lot of litter is also the most important here. After the summer, we will come up with an approach to make the city cleaner, but we see that action is already needed now."

In the center of Amsterdam, waste is collected in bags in many places, which are often torn open by people looking for deposit cans or bottles. To prevent this, temporary above-ground containers are being placed. The containers will be placed at Nieuwmarkt, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, Prins Hendrikkade, the Amstel, and near the Rembrandtplein.

The municipality also wants to stop using waste bags to collect waste in the city center in the long term. "It is just not possible to place containers in many places in the city center because public space is scarce, visibility for traffic is blocked, the quays are not strong enough, and we cannot reach or stop in many places with large vehicles." In the long term, the focus is on collecting waste by appointment or at waste collection points on the water.

Also, in some places, sweeping crews sweep immediately after the waste has been collected to remove smaller litter. This so-called "train" started this week in the Red Light District and the Warmoesstraat.

There will also be extra waste bins in Amsterdam parks, city beaches, and recreation areas. Teams will be set up to encourage people to clean up waste in the Vondelpark, Westerpark, Sloterpark, Oosterpark, Rembrandtpark, and Erasmuspark. There will also be wheelie bins in the Vondelpark where deposit cans and bottles can be donated. If that goes well, the wheelie bins will also be placed in other places.