Note: these are machine translations, offered to you as a service. Therefore, it might not be translated perfectly.
Date: March 26, 2026
Subject: Invitation kitchen on wheels (keuken op wielen)
Dear resident,
Soon, our Kitchen on Wheels will visit your neighbourhood. Come by and enjoy a nice treat. You will receive a free mini kitchen bin for food waste, free bio bags, and some handy tips to help you separate fruit, vegetable and garden waste (called gft in Dutch) and leftovers.
Waste guide to put on your fridge
Many people are unsure what is allowed in the gft bin. What to do with things like coffee grounds, eggshells, nut shells and meat or fish leftovers? All of these go into the green gft bin. Keep the enclosed waste guide in your kitchen on your fridge with the magnet and check it whenever you’re in doubt. Use the small kitchen bin and compostable bags to collect your food leftovers easily. That way, everything ends up in the right bin every day and your kitchen stays fresh and clean.
Join and win a gift card worth 20 euros
We will be giving away gift cards for local supermarkets to residents who separate fruit and vegetable waste. Maybe you will receive one too! See spaarnelanden.nl/keukenopwielen for the terms.
Visit the Kitchen on Wheels
Soon we will visit your neighbourhood. Come by, enjoy a nice snack and pick up your free kitchen bin and compostable bags.
Where and when can you find us?
- Woensdag 1 april: Nagtzaamplein van 11.30 – 13.30 uur en Noormannenstraat 1, bij buurtcentrum de Hamelink van 14.30 – 16.00 uur
- Donderdag 2 april: van Zeggelenplein, nabij bushalte van 14.00 – 16.00 uur
- Woensdag 8 april: voor wijkcentrum Alleman, Jan Sluyterslaan 11 van 16.00 – 17.30 uur
- Donderdag 9 april: Duitslandlaan thv 70-72, nabij basisschool De Piramide van 14.00 – 15.30 uur
- Woensdag 15 april: Leonardo da Vinciplein van 13.30 – 15.30 uur
- Donderdag 16 april: Ramaerstraat, nabij CBS De Wadden van 14.30 – 16.00 uur
- Woensdag 22 april: Brusselstraat 37, nabij ADL supermarkt van 16.00 – 18.00 uur
- Woensdag 20 mei: Kruising Sloeweg – Poelmolenpad van 15.00 – 17.00 uur
- Vrijdag 22 mei: Jumbo Engelenburg, naast de Recyclewagen van 13.30 – 15.30 uur
Why this initiative?
Food and garden waste can be made into compost for farmers and biogas for energy. In Haarlem we already separate half of our waste. That’s great, but it could be even better. Every year about 70 kilos of food waste per resident still goes into the wrong, regular bin.
Food leftovers in the green bin
We ask residents to put more fruit and vegetable waste and food leftovers in the gft bin. For example coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peels and bones. We understand that this is not always easy. That is why we give you this information and visit your neighbourhood with the Kitchen on Wheels to help you get started.
Any questions?
Ask our recycle coaches at recyclecoach@spaarnelanden.nl or call 023 – 751 7200.
You can reach them on weekdays from 08.00 to 16.30.
Kind regards,
Team Spaarnelanden
in cooperation with Haarlem.
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Date: December 12, 2024
Our reference: SPL/
Subject: Residual waste balance
Dear resident,
In this letter, we’re informing you about a new measure regarding your residual waste. Starting from January 1, 2025, your current waste card will have a residual waste balance. With this balance, you can use the underground container 365 times in the coming calendar year. It might take some getting used to, but for an average Haarlem household, this number is more than sufficient. On average, Haarlem residents dispose of 1 to 2 bags of residual waste per week, approximately 100 bags per year.
Same waste card, now with a balance
From January 1, 2025, you can continue using your own waste card as usual. What’s new is that the container will display your balance on the screen. This way, you can see how much you’re throwing away. If you’re close to exceeding the balance, we’ll notify you once per quarter by letter.
The residual waste balance: better waste management
In Haarlem, we’re improving our waste separation, but we still waste over 40% of our resources. Additionally, residents sometimes dispose of construction and demolition waste in the containers. Companies often use containers without paying for them. As a result, containers quickly fill up, get stuck, or even break. This causes a lot of inconvenience for you and your neighbors. With the residual waste balance, we want to prevent this from happening. We also hope that this first step, with a balance of 365 openings, will help raise awareness about waste separation. The experiences of the coming year will help us determine whether the balance should remain the same or be adjusted.
Less residual waste
The better we separate our waste, the less residual waste there will be. In Haarlem, everyone can separate organic waste, food scraps, plastic packaging, cans, carton/paper, and other recyclables close to home. You can find out which waste goes where in the accompanying brochure. You can also check the Waste Guide on afvalwijzer.spaarnelanden.nl or download the Spaarnelanden Waste Guide app (iOS/Android).
Bulky household waste
You can bring bulky household waste to the Milieuplein yourself or have it collected free of charge. A pick-up appointment is quickly made via afvalwijzer.spaarnelanden.nl/grofafspraak. Never place bulky waste next to the underground container. This creates litter and causes nuisance for you and your neighbours. Moreover, Spaarnelanden will not be able to empty the container properly.
Industrial waste
Do you (also) have industrial waste? Then take out a commercial waste contract with Spaarnelanden or another provider. Look for the possibilities on spaarnelanden.nl/bedrijfsafval.
Questions and answers
If you have any questions, please look at spaarnelanden.nl/restafvalsaldo. Here you will also find answers to frequently asked questions about the residual waste balance.
Sincerely,
Municipality of Haarlem in collaboration with Spaarnelanden
For more information about how we handle your data, you can read the privacy statement on the Spaarnelanden website: spaarnelanden.nl/privacy.
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Date: 2 July 2024
Our reference: SPL/52
Subject: Organic waste containers for your neighborhood
Dear occupant,
Last year we conducted a successful trial with green containers for vegetable, fruit and garden waste (in Dutch: GFT waste) and food scraps at various locations in the city center. Research has been conducted and it shows that the experiences among city center residents are positive. That is why it has been decided to offer organic waste containers in more places in the center. We often do this at existing places where you also bring your residual waste and, for example, paper and cardboard. Here you see an example of such a small, above-ground container. In some cases we also place regular green organic waste bins. We would like to inform you in more detail about the new organic waste containers and locations.
Invitation: Thursday, July 11 between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM
We would like to welcome you to a drop-in evening at the Cultuurhuis Klein Heiligpand (address: Klein Heiligland 84), in De Wereld Kindertheater. You can just walk in between 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Our employees are ready to help you! What can you discuss that evening?
- The intended locations of the new organic waste containers
- The types of containers and how to use them
- How to best separate organic waste and food scraps
Together we work on organic waste and food scraps
We have noticed from previous pilots that many residents are already actively separating organic waste and food waste or composting themselves. If you are going to start with this, we hope that the new organic waste containers in the area will make it extra easy for you.
Separating organic waste is important
In Haarlem we already separate more than half of our waste. Nice, but it could be better. Because on average, about 60 kilos of food waste per inhabitant is thrown away as residual waste every year, while it can also be thrown in the green organic waste bin. That’s a shame, because compost is made from separated organic waste and food scraps, which farmers use to grow food. And biogas, which is used to heat houses.
Reason enough to put more vegetable and fruit waste and (inedible) food remains such as coffee grounds and (chicken) bones in the organic waste container. We know that separating food waste from organic waste takes effort. We would like to make this easier for you and therefore place more containers to separate organic waste and food waste.
Designation decision
A designation decision for the new organic waste container locations will soon be published. Do you disagree with (one of) the locations and would you like to be kept informed about this? Then go to https://www.overheid.nl/and activate the email service for your neighborhood via ‘stay informed’.
Questions and comments
Do you have any questions or remarks? Then you can email us at recyclecoach@spaarnelanden.nl.
We look forward to your arrival on Thursday, July 11 and would be happy to discuss the possibilities with you to improve the separation of organic waste and food waste together!
Kind regards,
Spaarnelanden
———————–
Date: 27 May 2024
Our reference: SPL/045
Subject: New location Recyclewagen in Europawijk
Dear occupant,
Are you already familiar with the Recyclewagen? It will soon be at a new location in Europawijk.
At the Recyclewagen you can hand in small quantities of items* that do not belong in regular waste containers. For example, small electrical appliances, metal, hard plastic and small chemical waste such as paint and batteries. We can make new products from these materials, or they are dangerous if they are thrown in the regular waste containers. Enough reason, to hand in these items at the Recyclewagen.
The Recyclewagen can be found in Schalkwijk at the locations, dates and times below:
Belgiëlaan/Frankrijklaan (near Vomar) – new location
1x per month on Wednesdays from 9am-11am.
Next dates: 5 June, 3 July, 31 July, 28 August
Professor Donderslaan (near Lidl)
1x per month on Wednesdays from 9am-11am.
Next dates: 19 June, 17 July, 14 August
Engelenburg (near Jumbo)
Once every two weeks on Fridays from 13.30-15.30.
Next dates: 31 May, 14 June, 28 June, 12 July, 26 July, 9 August, 23 August
The Winkelcentrum Schalkwijk location will expire from June 2024.
For more information, please visit www.spaarnelanden.nl/wagen.
Kind regards,
Team Spaarnelanden in collaboration with the municipality of Haarlem
*You can only hand in small quantities at the Recyclewagen, it must fit in a shopping bag. Do you have more or larger items? Bring them to the ‘Milieuplein’ or make a free appointment to have it collected via www.spaarnelanden.nl/zelf-regelen.
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Date October 20, 2023
Our reference SPL/133
Subject: New in Haarlem City Centre: the Haarlem Recycletas
Dear occupant,
Good news! From November 2023, all occupants of Haarlem Center can use the Haarlem Recycletas. With this handy bag, you can have old books, small electrical appliances, toys, textiles and CDs/DVDs collected from your home free of charge. We ensure that these items are not burned with the residual waste, but are reused in an environmentally friendly way through thrift stores or recycling.
The Haarlem Recycletas, how does it work?
1. Pick up a Recycletas at one of the distribution points or give-aways:
Fixed distribution points city centre
- Municipal public hall, Zijlvest 39
- Library, Gasthuisstraat 32
- Community center Binnensteeds, Nieuwe Groenmarkt 20
- Pletterij, Lange Herenvest 122
Give-aways
- Di. November 14 from 16:00-18:00 Grote Markt
- Fri. Nov. 17 from 9:00-11:00 Botermarkt – at the Recyclewagen
2. Put only old books, small electrical appliances, toys, textiles and CDs/DVDs in the bag. Note: no paint, liquids and batteries. Do not use the bag for other purposes.
3. Make sure all items fit in the bag, with the zipper closed. Do not make the bag too heavy.
4. We will pick up the filled bag from your home free of charge. Make a pickup appointment through our website or customer service.
5. At the collection appointment, you will receive a new Recycltas in the mailbox for next time.
For all rules and to make a collection appointment, go to: spaarnelanden.nl/tas.
Do you alreay know The Recyclewagen?
At the Recyclewagen you deposit materials that do not belong in the regular waste containers, such as iron and other metals, hard plastics, (broken) electrical appliances and small chemical waste. At the Recyclewagen we only accept smaller materials; they must fit in a shopping bag. From the materials handed in we can make new products, or they are (fire) hazardous if thrown in the regular waste containers. The Recyclewagen is located on the Botermarkt every 14 days on Fridays between 09:00 and 11:00 (in even weeks). Next dates: November 3, November 17, December 1, December 15.
For more information visit: spaarnelanden.nl/wagen.
Kind regards,
Spaarnelanden
—————–
Date August 30, 2023
Our reference SPL/116
Subject: New in Schalkwijk: the Haarlem Recycletas
Dear occupant,
Good news! From September 12, 2023, all residents of Schalkwijk can use the Haarlem Recycletas. With this handy bag, you can have old books, small electrical appliances, toys, textiles and CDs/DVDs collected from your home free of charge. We ensure that these items are not burned with the residual waste, but are reused in an environmentally friendly way through thrift stores or recycling.
The Haarlem Recycletas, how does it work?
1. Pick up a Recycletas at one of the distribution points or giveaways. See below:
Distribution points
Boerhaavewijk:
• Boerhaavebad, Kadijklaan 1
• Wijkcentrum de Ringvaart, Floris van Adrichemlaan 98
Meerwijk:
• Da Vinci, Centrum voor ontmoeting, Leonardo Da Vinciplein 73
Europawijk:
• Wijkcentrum De Wereld, Laan van Berlijn 1
Molenwijk:
• De Huiskamer, Terschellingpad 2,
• Het Open koffie Huis, Stichting Ontmoeting, Frieslandlaan 1
Give-aways
– Wed. September 13, 9:00-11:00
Professor Donderslaan near Lidl – at the Recyclewagen (Boerhaavewijk)
– Do. September 14, 17:00-19:00
Shopping center Schalkwijk, Floridaplein (Boerhaavewijk)
– Fri. September 15, 17:00-19:00
Da Vinciplein (Meerwijk)
– Mon. September 18, 17:00-19:00
Vomar Belgiëlaan (Europawijk)
– Fri. 22 september, 13:30-15:30
Jumbo Engelenburg, at the Recyclewagen (Molenwijk)
2. Put old books, small electrical appliances, toys, textiles and CDs/DVDs in the bag. Note: no paint, liquids and batteries.
3. Make sure all items fit in the bag, with the zipper closed. Do not make the bag too heavy.
4. We will pick up the filled bag from your home free of charge. Make a pickup appointment through our website or customer service.
5. At the collection appointment, you will receive a new Recycletas in your mailbox for next time.
For all rules and to make a collection appointment go to: spaarnelanden.nl/tas.
The Recyclewagen, have you heard of it?
At the Recyclewagen, you can drop off small amounts of materials that don’t belong in regular waste containers, such as iron and other metals, hard plastics, small chemical waste and small electrical appliances. From these materials we can make new products, or they are dangerous if thrown in the regular waste containers.
The Recyclewagen: dates and locations Schalwijk in 2023
Please note, this has changed
Shopping center Schalkwijk, Floridaplein (new location).
Wednesday, October 11, November 8 and December 6.
Time: 9:00 to 11:00.
Professor Donderslaan near Lidl
Wednesday, Sept. 13, Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 22 and Dec. 20.
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Engelenburg at Jumbo
On Fridays in even weeks: Sept. 8, Sept. 22, Oct. 6, Oct. 20, Nov. 3,
November 17, December 1 and December 15.
Time: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
For more information visit: spaarnelanden.nl/wagen.
Kind regards,
Spaarnelanden