Each Dutch resident produced 453 kg of trash last year
Last year, the 342 municipalities in the Netherlands collected 8.1 billion kilograms of household waste, amounting to 453 kilograms per Netherlands resident. That is slightly less than 2022’s 453 kilograms of household waste per resident, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported. It also reported that more municipalities don’t ask locals to separate their waste into various recycling categories but have a waste processor separate it after collection.
The largest part of household waste is “residual waste” - waste that isn’t recycled. This waste decreased from 182 kilograms per inhabitant in 2022 to 177 kilograms last year. Ameland collected the most residual household waste at 713 kilograms per inhabitant. Horst aan de Maas collected the least at 26 kg per resident.
Organic waste was the second largest waste item collected last year at 92 kilograms per inhabitant, up from 89 kg per inhabitant the year before. “In urban areas, with many high-rise buildings, there is less space for waste bins for the separation of waste like organic waste. This is reflected in the figures, where Amsterdam, with 4 kg of organic waste per inhabitant, came out much lower than average,” CBS said. The non-urban municipality of Westerveld collected the most organic waste at 241 kg per inhabitant.
Last year, municipalities collected 41 kg of waste paper and cardboard per inhabitant, compared to 43 kg per inhabitant in 2022. “Paper and cardboard is a waste stream that has been decreasing for years due to digitalization,” CBS said. “During the coronavirus pandemic, this waste stream stabilized because more parcels were sent, but in 2023 the decrease continued.” In 2000, there was still 64 kg of waste paper and cardboard per inhabitant. Schiermonnikoog collected the most of this type of waste last year at 159 kg per inhabitant, The Hague collected the least at 16 kg per inhabitant.
More and more waste is getting recycled as the Netherlands strives for a circular economy. Most municipalities focus on residents doing the separation themselves and collect things like paper, organic waste, and glass separately. But as the efficiency of post-separation plants improves, more municipalities are separating their waste after collection. Approximately a quarter of Dutch municipalities have their residual waste separated by a waste processer after collection.
