Smart waste management in tourist municipalities

While large, busy cities struggle with a lack of space, smaller municipalities face their own challenges when it comes to increasing waste capacity. In Zeeland, the Netherlands, the large numbers of tourists visiting each year cause significant fluctuations in waste volumes. From relatively quiet winter months to the peak of summer, the municipality of Veere must be prepared. On top of that, the distances between villages are considerable, resulting in long driving times for collection trucks.

When a new supermarket was built in one of the villages in 2013, the municipality of Veere decided to go underground. An online search led to 3 potential suppliers of underground compactors, and a request for proposals was sent to them. “We asked them to submit a bid. Sidcon came out on top in terms of both price and quality with its underground compactor,” explains Harry Louwerse, Policy Advisor at the municipality of Veere. When asked about his initial experiences, Louwerse is clear: “They kept their promises. In fact, it worked well from day one.”

Underground in existing concrete pits

A few years later, in 2016, the municipality of Veere was ready for the next step. A tender for 15 underground compactors was issued to significantly increase capacity in several villages. Waste collection trucks had been driving back and forth constantly, sometimes emptying the containers more than 3 times a week. “We also noticed that more and more plastic waste was being disposed of. The question was whether to add more containers or look for another solution, a very important consideration,” Louwerse explains. The decision was made to install additional underground compactors, with one important requirement: they had to fit into the existing concrete pits.

“We now have to empty them far less often. The collection trucks come once a week, and sometimes only once every two weeks. Because the containers fill up more slowly, there’s also less litter.”

Fewer trips

Sidcon was ultimately awarded the contract to supply the 15 containers, and faced a tight deadline. The brand-new containers had to be installed quickly to be fully operational before the busy summer season. “There was real pressure, but they pulled it off.” There are now a total of 18 compactors across the 13 villages in the municipality, 13 of which are placed in existing concrete pits. Did everything go smoothly from the start? Louwerse: “At first, there were some issues adjusting the ‘full’ indicator, but that was quickly resolved and now it works perfectly.”

Louwerse is especially pleased with the capacity benefits of the underground containers. “We now have to empty them far less often. The collection trucks come once a week, and sometimes only once every two weeks. Because the containers fill up more slowly, there’s also less litter.”