Amsterdam businesses now obligated to leave garbage in bins rather than on the street

Companies in Amsterdam will not be allowed to leave their garbage bags on the street from July 1. From that date, they must put it in the bins or keep the waste behind their front door until it is collected.

“The collection of garbage via loose garbage bags is no longer appropriate for this time. The garbage bags are ripped open by rats and gulls, and also by people looking for bottles and cans that they can deposit for money. This causes litter and pollution in the city,” said the deputy mayor responsible for waste, Hester van Buren.

Van Buren also pointed out that this measure actually came into effect on May 6, but the transitional period applies until July 1. Companies risk a fine of at least 550 euros if they do not stick to the new rules or if they dump their garbage into garbage containers meant for residents.

To make this enforcement possible, companies have been obligated to put a sticker with the address of the company on it since last year. Businesses that produce less than nine garbage bags a week can still leave their garbage with the regular garbage bags as long as they pay waste collection charges.

Private individuals are still allowed to leave their garbage bags on the street, although Van Buren has said that this will also eventually be stopped.