Garbage

Nijmegen has a special garbage disposal system. Where many cities in the Netherlands use either a system of wheelie bins for garbage, paper and bio-waste, or single garbage bags for all garbage, the city of Nijmegen aims to make its inhabitants aware of recycling options.

Through the purchase of waste-tax imposed garbage bags coupled with the pick-up of plastic, cans, paper and other waste, recycling is being stimulated. Almost all supermarkets have the see-through “plastic heroes” bags available, which are used for all types of plastic, milk- and drink cartons and cans and are picked up at specific days. The charges for the plastic bags for recycling are € 0,50 per roll of 10 pieces.

Garbage bags

All other waste is collected in green or (smaller) red bags from the waste disposal company DAR. These bags you buy at the check-out counter or service desks of most supermarkets. They are relatively expensive: €0,93 per bag for the green ones and €0,67 for the red ones. They are sold in packs of ten.

There is also the option to apply for a small bin for bio-waste. This is collected separately and does not come standard on every address.

Check pick-up days

Pick-up days

Per area there are several days on which waste is being collected. In the suburbs, this is often once per two weeks, in the centre every week. Paper is collected once a month. To get an overview of when which type of waste is being collected, you can download a “garbage calendar”. This is an overview by postal code, showing the different collection dates. This calendar is offered for free and can be downloaded in the screen below, by filling in your postal code. Keep in mind: do not put your garbage outside before 19:30h on the night before it is picked up. Any earlier, and you risk a fine!

 

If no pass has been left behind in your house, you can also turn to DAR for a replacement.

 

Want to know the garbage pick-up days for your area? Please click here to download the DAR garbage calendar.

Remaining garbage:

Glass:  Containers are often located near supermarkets. Transparent, green and brown is recycled separately.
Batteries:  Supermarkets and some book stores collect those.
Frying fat:  Some supermarkets, as well as the DAR garbage depot collect this.
Lightbulbs: DIY store and some supermarkets collect those.
Electronic appliances: These can be brought to the DAR depot, as well as to selected electronics stores.

The garbage depot

If you need to dispose of bulky waste, fat, oil, tires, furniture, metal, electronics etc., you can turn to the DAR depot. Here you can drop it all off, though you do need a “waste pass” tied to your address in order to access the grounds. The DAR can provide you with this pass. In case you bring in more waste than allowed per household per year, an additional bill is written out through the local authorities. It could also be that you have to pay a fee for particular types of waste.

 

If no pass has been left behind in your house, you can also turn to DAR for a replacement.