Do not pay to get rid of your waste, but throw it away for free in an underground container in Eindhoven. This is possible through a ‘trick’ that has been around for more than ten years. Due to the error you can just save hundreds of euros, but residents of the city pay for the waste of others.
The underground waste containers in Eindhoven, and other municipalities in our province, you have to open with a personal waste pass. This way only residents can throw away garbage bags.
But with a bank card, OV chip card and even with an access pass from your work you can also open the containers in Eindhoven. Simple and free.
These cards all have a so-called NFC chip, that stands for Near Field Communication: A technology to transfer information. But the containers in Eindhoven only see a chip and therefore do not see if you actually have access.
As a double household you pay more than 275 euros per year for your waste in Eindhoven. You may then use the underground container unlimited. But things are different in other municipalities. In this way you pay between 2 and 5 euros each time you throw something away. Or, for example, 12.50 euros each time you put your click on the street.
By throwing away your waste in Eindhoven you can save a lot of money as a non-resident of the city. “I think it’s really unfair and outrageous,” says Marian, throwing her waste away. “Everyone can lose their waste here for free and we have full containers.”
Examples cost for waste
Eindhoven:
- Double household: 276.72 euros per year
- Four and multi-person household: 409.88 euros per year
Helmond:
- Basic amount each household: 225.84 euros per year
- Pick up 140 liter CLICKO: 6.22 euros each time
- Underground container: 2.22 euros each time
Meierijstad:
- Basic amount each household: 160.80 euros per year
- Pick up 140 liters COCO: 12.50 euros each time
- Underground container: 2.50 euros (30 liters), 5.60 euros (60 liters)
Nuenen:
- Basic amount each household: 189.00 euros per year
- Pick up 140 liter CLICKO: 16.00 euros each time
- Underground container: 2.05 euros (30 liters), 4.15 euros (60 liters)
The trick has been around for more than ten years. The municipality and waste collector Cure are always talking about a malfunction in recent years and about technology that will be adjusted ‘quickly’. Cure says that they cannot respond now because of the holiday period. And the municipality of Eindhoven only wants to respond after consultation with the waste processor.
“If they throw it in the container, I think it’s fine. As long as they don’t put it next to the container,” says a man who is walking with his dog. But when he hears about cost differences, he adjusts his opinion. “We do have to pay for our waste and not others? That is not that good, that is not really possible. I don’t know what the municipality is doing.”
