The trash disposal system in the Netherlands is most likely different from your home country. The main idea in Maastricht is that waste should be recycled and separated as much as possible. Maastricht aims to be waste free by 2030. Therefore, the city has made significant efforts to improve the waste disposal system. Sorting your garbage helps the recycling process so that it can have a less harmful impact on the environment.
In Maastricht we have many methods of trash disposal. You can leave your organic and general waste outside of your house on set days in set containers and bags. If you live in the inner city, you can take your plastic, paper, cardboard, metal and glass to the local recycling location (milieuperon). However, if you live outside the inner city, these will be collected from your house.
Milieu app
Most of the information you need when it comes to recycling and disposing of your trash can be found in the Milieu App, provided in both Dutch and English. It has some great features, like a map showing the different recycling points around the city, a waste calendar (which can also be downloaded here, in Dutch) and a detailed search function for every object telling you the proper way it should be disposed of. We highly recommend downloading it. Remember to turn on the notifications, so you will be notified about the days your trash gets picked up!
In the beginning of the year, your household should also receive a printed calendar that shows you the dates on which your trash will be picked up in front of your house. Consider hanging it on the fridge so you don’t miss the trash collection dates!
