Major Dutch cities struggle with mounting trash problem
Major Dutch cities continue to face growing waste challenges, with overflowing trash bins, dumped furniture, and street litter persisting despite millions in municipal spending. According to NOS, Residents in Amsterdam, The Hague, and other urban centers are increasingly frustrated.
Dirk Groot, an expert on street litter known as the “Zwerfinator,” said the problem has worsened over the last two decades. “I cannot say city residents are more antisocial than rural residents. Litter has always been present in big cities, but the amount has increased. In the past twenty years, the number of trash bins has quintupled because we produce more waste,” he told NOS.
Amsterdam councilor Hester van Buren (PvdA) described the issue as “complex.” She cited dense housing, heavy visitor traffic, and continued use of waste bags that attract vermin. The city has added above-ground containers and required businesses to use bins, but AT5 reports that high staff workloads, sick leave, and long-term absences in the cleaning service have worsened street conditions. The city says temporary workers are hired to fill gaps.
In The Hague, waste remains a problem despite the 2023 “Aanvalsplan Afval” initiative, investments, and additional enforcement. Councilor Arjen Kapteijns (GroenLinks) said densely populated neighborhoods with many migrant workers face the worst conditions.
Groot suggested broader solutions beyond stricter enforcement. “More sweeping or policing does not solve the root problem. The real solution lies in reducing packaging, which requires action from businesses and national policymakers,” he told NOS.
