Rotterdam will punish polluters of crowded recreational areas more severely than in previous years. Visitors to Rotterdam parks who do not clean up after their visit this summer risk a fine of up to 150 euros, the municipality reports. In order to enforce this, the municipality will deploy extra inspectors, including a number who will be on patrol in civilian clothes.
To prevent the garbage cans from overflowing, more and extra large garbage containers are being placed at the entrances and exits of busy places, so that visitors can easily dispose of their waste.
Many Rotterdammers who do clean up their mess are annoyed by the pollution, says alderman Vincent Karremans of Enforcement and Buitenruimte. “The picture of a full park or grassy field in a place where Rotterdammers enjoy the greenery and the nice weather is a beautiful sight. Only the view after sunset is too often a lot less: a park full of waste that has not been thrown away neatly , but that is left indiscriminately on the grass. The waste is bad for, for example, birds that can eat it and it attracts vermin. I’m done with that, so we’re going to tighten up on this.”
Park visitors will be informed in good weather about the waste and barbecue rules by information officers from the municipality who are present in the parks. They hand out waste bags and give advice to the public.