Amsterdam scales up efforts against litter as summer crowds loom
The city of Amsterdam is stepping up its efforts against litter on the streets during the busy summer period. The municipality will place more waste containers in crowded areas, deploy extra cleaning teams, and place new bins aimed at reducing litter from people seeking cans and bottles to return for a deposit.
“We are focusing primarily on busy locations where many residents and visitors gather, such as parks, quays, and swimming spots,” the city said in a press release on Friday.
At 28 such locations, the city is placing 200 extra mini-containers for trash and 200 deposit containers for cans and bottles. 87 extra-large green waste containers will be emptied more frequently, and the city is temporarily placing 44 containers in the Jordaan and Haarlemmerbuurt areas to prevent garbage bags from being left on the street.
The city also developed new trash cans aimed specifically at reducing litter caused by people combing bins for cans and bottles to return for a deposit. The new bins feature a self-closing door and a recycling facility for deposit bottles and cans. “In this way, we aim to prevent people from pulling open waste bins in search of deposits,” the city said.
200 of these new bins will be placed at seven crowded locations this summer: behind Amsterdam Central Station, Kingekrstraat, Station Noord/Johan van Hasseltweg, Museumplein, Amsterdamse Poort, Osdorpplein, and Oostpoort.
“In addition, we are deploying extra cleaners during weekends and days with good weather until the end of September,” the municipality said. Municipal enforcers will also actively address people who litter at 17 locations spread across the city between the end of May and the beginning of September.
“Only together can we keep the city clean. That is why we ask visitors and residents to pay extra attention to their waste,” the municipality of Amsterdam said. “In busy areas, we are placing signs, stickers, lamppost banners, and green graffiti urging people to throw waste in the bin, or to take it with them if the bins are full. We are also showing advertisements and videos online to reinforce this message.”
