Separating waste: organic waste (GFT)

Coffee grounds, apple peels, spent tulips: a large part of our waste is organic waste, like food and garden waste (GFT in Dutch). Read in which neighbourhoods the municipality is collecting organic waste.

Your organic waste will be turned into compost to enrich the soil in parks and gardens. By separating your organic waste from other waste, you are working towards a better environment.

Organic waste collection days

In the neighbourhoods where the municipality collects organic waste, every household can put out their GFT (Groente-, fruit- en tuinafval) container for collection. Below you can see which neighbourhood these are. You can check the household waste calendar to see when organic waste is collected in your neighbourhood.

Ordering a GFT container

For the separate collection of organic waste, you will need a GFT bucket or container. You do not yet have a GFT container? Order one using the online form Order or return a household rubbish bin (kliko).

Disposing of organic waste

Residents of the neighbourhood of Ypenburg can use the underground rubbish containers for their organic waste. This map shows you where the containers are located. You can also dispose of your organic waste at 1 of the waste depots.

What is allowed in the GFT bucket or container?

Look at the examples below. Are you in doubt about what is allowed in the container? Look at the Afvalscheidingswijzer (in Dutch) or throw it in the regular household rubbish container.

Allowed in the GFT bucket or container

Food scraps:

• bread
• leftover meals
• nut shells
• vegetable, fruit and potato scraps
• meat and fish scraps (including bones and shells)
• tea bags and filters with coffee grounds

Small garden and plant waste:

• leaves
• cut grass
• house plants
• garden clippings
• weeds
• cut flowers

Other:

• manure from small pets with straw

Not allowed in the GFT bucket or container

• ash from ashtrays and the fireplace
• biodegradable plastic (takes too long before it turns into compost)
• frying oil
• dog and cat hairs
• wood
• large garden waste, such as branches, Christmas trees, sand and sod
• cheese rinds with plastic
• cat litter
• chewing gum
• cigarette butts
• stable manure
• internal organs and entrails from a butchered animal
• bird cage sand

Making compost yourself

You can easily make compost yourself from organic waste. This way you help to reduce the amount of waste. And you change your organic waste into a rich humus for the soil in your garden or flower boxes. You can make compost in a compost bin which you can buy at a home improvement store or garden centre. You can find tips on the website of Milieu Centraal.

There are also different neighbourhood initiatives in the city which are involved with composting. Look at the educational website of Milieueducatie for more information and tips. Or watch the video on composting.

Have large garden waste collected

Would you like to arrange to have your large garden waste collected? Make a free appointment for collection through the page Arrange collection of bulky waste and garden waste.

The Takkenroute is held 2 times a year: in the spring and in the autumn.