The City of Antwerp organizes Pop Up Recycle Stations in different neighbourhoods for citizens to dispose of waste fraction for free.
The pop up recycle stations were implemented in 2017, in cooperation with local clean-up actions. The mail goal of the pop up recycle stations is to increase the accessibility for citizens to recycle stations and to lower the threshold. The city counts 8 recyle stations, this can be a problem for people without a car or transport. Furthermore, there is some misunderstanding about the fees we charge in the recycle stations. We only charge bulky waste and rubble but many people think all fractions are payable. This pop ups also need to help us communicate this message and inform people. Also cultural differences, language issues, ... makes it difficult for some citizens to find their way to the recycle stations. We come to the citizens now, instead of they coming to us.
The pop ups are free of charge (except bulky waste), only for citizens on foot or by bike (no cars allowed), have a maximum of 2m³ waste and some fractions are not allowed (rubble, asbestos, ...).
There is a real focus on the local neighbourhood. We don't focus exclusive on social neighbourhoods and problem areas, also richer areas, student quarters, housing projects, appartment buildings and car free zones are covered. We always link the pop up to an existing project for local neighboorhoud cleanup.
The main stakeholders are:
- citizens
- communication department
- social services
- recycling companies for some fractions: wood, textile, small electrical devices, small hazardous waste
Resources needed
- we had to invest in an extra truck (CNG) to transport the stuff needed for the pop up.
- personnel: 3 to 4 people for each pop up (presence during the pop up) and 1 person for the planning & preparations.
- charges for recycling companies (placing containers, processing waste, ...)
Evidence of success
By now (november 2019) we organised 66 pop ups, had over 16.000 visitors and collected 500.000 kilograms of waste.
Difficulties encountered
- education of the staff: knowledge of the fractions and sorting
- find open spaces in the city to organise the pop up (small streets, populous areas, ...)
- being strict to citizens who try to enter with a car (the pop up don't have the capacity for collecting big amounts of waste)
Potential for learning or transfer
In Flanders, we already see a transfer of this good practice in other cities. This means it'll work in different cities and regions.
Please login to see the expert opinion of this good practice.
