Mark Ernst
3.3.1 Strategies from the municipality
The main focus of the municipality is a better separation of the waste on Texel. They are aiming for 70% separation rate at 2020. This is a good point to start at. It’s a pity that there is no further goal defined by the municipality for after 2020. This is not showing the high ambitions that they have. We think that the municipality should define higher ambitions for the next years, after 2020.
Differential rates
Introducing differential rates seems a proper tool to make the people more aware of their behaviour with materials and waste. This is a good starting point to reduce the amount of waste that is produced. There is resistance from the citizens though, because of privacy reasons. Differential rates will hopefully reduce the amount of waste that is generated, but it doesn’t seem to increase the separation rate. To expend this tool, we could introduce a system that can recognize the material of the waste, and thereby opening the right bin so the waste get separated properly.
Reversed collection
Reversed collection seems a proper tool to indeed increase the separation rate. The municipality wants the citizens to see the waste as valuable materials. This is a very important aspect of this system. This is the way that Texel should go indeed. When waste is treated as a material, that can be used, instead of disposal, then we can reduce that amount of waste significantly. Important is then that the waste is indeed separated properly, so it can be re-used as (raw) materials. The municipality is aiming to increase this rate by providing high services.
These tools can be a good start to have a better separation of waste and to change to mind-set towards waste, but we think for the far future (2065) this will not work anymore. Hopefully at that time waste is then considered as a valuable material, which should be collected or re-used in a different way.
3.3.2 Initiatives from citizens
The MyBeach initiative is a good start to create more awareness for waste, especially on the beaches. This initiative should be expended to me pavilions so that it will in the end cover the whole beach.
Next to this initiative, there should be space and possibilities for people like Maria Roelofsen. Her museum is a good example using waste as a valuable material and re-using it in a unique way. More of these initiatives should be started and supported by the municipality.
Probably there are more initiatives, but for now we didn’t find many more. These initiatives are a good step towards a better future, but they should be more promoted and known to the citizens as well as to the tourists visiting the island. In this way people can get encouraged to treat their waste better too.