Groningen’s Municipality Aims for a Waste-Free Future by 2030
Contribute to the municipality's goal by participating in the 'Waste Friday' with prizes and rewards for reducing waste.
Do you bring your reusable cups to university? If not, the municipality calls for action to actively contribute to its ambitious goal of becoming waste-free by 2030. During “Waste Friday”, the residents are expected to collaborate to this goal, having in mind the R-ladder of reducing waste:
refuse (waste),
reduce,
reuse (or repurpose),
repair (instead of replacing),
recycle (paper, glass, plastic, they do have colorful trashcans),
recover.
Focusing on the circular economy, the municipality targets all the waste generated by 2030 to be reused as raw material, as the current situation shows that 62% of waste is recycled. To complete this goal, they do not only announce rewards of free coffee and tea, as a citizens’ council is being set up. Around 15,000 residents aged over 16 will soon receive a letter that calls for providing ideas for the project, and a representative group of 120 people will be selected for the council. The plan is to make the council complete by next year’s fall so that their recommendations can be selected for the new waste policy.
The future citizens’ council will be allocated 75 euros for meetings, as well as a travel allowance and childcare cost contributions. However, the municipality encourages every resident to participate by reducing waste and helping Groningen become “greener” by 2030.
Not only do they send letters and news, but they also allocate a website and an app providing all the information on waste policies and guides. You can find more information on this link.
Maybe a reusable cup would not hurt.