Plastic packaging

As of 1 November 2009 the Municipality of The Hague has placed 40 special containers around the city for the separate collection of plastic packaging.

Residents of The Hague will be able to dispose of their empty plastic packaging in specially-placed containers as well as at the city’s three garbage and recycling stations: 

• Binckhorst: Plutostraat 1
• Loosduinen: De Werf 13
• Scheveningen: Vissershavenstraat 2-4

The station on the Plutostraat (Binckhorst) will also accept other types of plastic, like garden furniture and toys.

Most of the plastic thrown away in the regular garbage is packaging: plastic bags, yoghurt containers, shampoo bottles and the like. The 40 containers located at various locations around the city are intended for this kind of packaging material. The collected plastic will be recycled to make new packaging and, for example, automobile parts, tennis balls and floor coverings.

What is allowed in the plastic containers?

The items below may be disposed of in the plastic containers:

• plastic bags and sandwich bags
• pasta and rice bags
• candy bags
• packaging for meat products and cheese
• plastic bags for magazines and advertising pamphlets
• blister packs for toothbrushes, cords and screws
• butter tubs, sauce packages and cheese, liver paste and evaporated milk t
• vegetable, fruit and salad containers or bags; serving tubs for french fries
  
• containers for yoghurt, custard, whipped cream and ice cream
• lids from jars of peanut butter, chocolate spread and the like
  
• squeeze bottles for sauces like ketchup and mayonnaise
• laundry detergent bottles and cleaning products
• shampoo, shower gel, bath foam and soap bottles
• gel, lotion and toothpaste tubes 
• bottles of oil and vinegar 
• soft drink and water bottles
• jars of gel, medicine and vitamins
• plant pots
  

Please ensure that everything is empty and remove any traces of paper, carton or aluminium foil.

What is not allowed in the plastic containers?

The items below may not be placed in the plastic containers:

• packages with their contents
• chemical waste packaging: make-up packaging, turpentine bottles and waterproof cement tubes 
• polystyrene foam: fast food packaging, meat trays and packaging materials
  
• traces of paper, carton or foil: chip bags and plastic strips for pills or chewing gum
  
• drink cartons: milk and juice packages
• other plastic products and objects like garden furniture and toys

Also see:

• Household Waste Calendar
  
• Where are the plastic containers in The Hague?
• Plastic heroes