Meet our waste coach

Gerjan de Boer is one of the two waste coaches at gemeente Dronten. After years on the garbage truck, he is now ready to help residents separate waste properly to make the municipality even greener. Gerjan's motivation is clear. He sees how much gemeente Dronten has grown in waste separation and is proud of what has already been achieved.

I've always been on the garbage truck myself, so you see up close how waste separation works in the neighborhoods. I noticed that people regularly have doubts about what belongs in which container. Containers are sometimes rejected, but in recent years we have seen a clear improvement. People are really making an effort. The policy, communication and waste coaches contribute to this," he explains.

Awareness
As waste coach, Gerjan actively goes into the neighborhoods to inform and advise residents about waste separation. 'We try to make appointments with people at home, to understand why waste separation sometimes doesn't go well and give tips. Often it's a matter of awareness," he says. This personal approach is generally very much appreciated. 'It's great to see that people respond positively and we actually see improvement.'

A big pile
Gerjan stresses the importance of proper separation: "It's not only good for the environment, but also for the wallet. There are still people who think that everything ends up in a big pile. That is so not true. Plastic, cans and drinking cartons (PBD), as well as vegetable, fruit, food and garden waste (VGF) and paper and cardboard each have their own depot, where the waste is recycled. Residual waste goes to the incinerator. So the goal is to leave as little residual waste as possible. Our mission is to help residents understand and improve this process'.

In the right place
Finally, Gerjan shares some practical tips: 'On this website you can find clear lists of what is and isn't allowed. Also feel free to ask the garbage men for advice. They are good help and often enjoy a chat. Furthermore, separating waste starts at home. Make sure there are separate garbage cans inside, such as a green bin on the kitchen counter or a plastic bin in the shed. That way the waste goes directly to the right place, which makes the final separation easier.