EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Good rubbish bin policy results in 50% reduction in litter.

Good rubbish bin policy results in 50% reduction in litter.

Introduction

Recent research by Stichting Nederland Schoon, the Dutch National Information and Technology Platform for Infrastructure, Traffic, Transport and Public Space (CROW) and the Dutch Association for Refuse and Cleansing Management (NVRD) has demonstrated that the well thought-out design, placement, emptying and maintenance of rubbish bins can result in a reduction of litter by 10 to 50%. The report ‘Rubbish bins in public space – Guidelines for their Design, Placement, Emptying and Maintenance’ (‘Afvalbakken in de openbare ruimte – Leidraad voor vormgeving, plaatsing, lediging en onderhoud’) describes how this can be achieved.

Description

According to the report, public space site managers need to be well aware of the requirements a rubbish bin should satisfy. It is to their advantage to know how rubbish bins can best be set up in public space, how frequently they should be emptied and what the minimum required state of maintenance should be. The neighbourhood where the rubbish bin is located is also an important factor.

In order to properly put the report’s findings into practice, a workshop was held on Thursday 10 March 2005 in Dordrecht. In cooperation with the Municipality of Dordrecht, Stichting Nederland Schoon has begun working with a new set-up for rubbish bins. The old situation has been mapped out and recorded. A report on the new situation and the results it has achieved was given during the workshop on 10 March. One of the results is that correct placement of the rubbish bins has led to less litter.

Conclusions

Good rubbish bin policy can result in up to a 50% reduction in litter.
Site managers need to be well aware of the requirements with respect to rubbish bins.
Site managers also need to allow for the changing influence of the surroundings.

Contact info

Stichting Nederland Schoon

Publication date

15/03/2005

Researcher

Stichting Nederland Schoon (’Keep Holland Clean Foundation’)

Links

The web site of the Keep Holland Clean Foundation (in Dutch)

Afvalbakken in de openbare ruimte (PDF, Dut, 142 KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Urban environment > Environmental sustainability

Keywords

Waste management and recycling