Paul Waye from Haarlem discovered a few years ago that there is also a lot of litter on the streets in Haarlem. He decides to pick up dirt during his weekly runs. He has been calling attention to the problems surrounding waste dumping via social media for several years now. “I do it for the future of youth and out of love for Haarlem.”
With ‘Pioniers’ we tell stories about the strength of the local society and the self-resolving capacity of citizens. Inspiring North Hollanders who take matters into their own hands and come up with creative solutions for big or small problems. Do you also have an inspiring story? Mail it to us [email protected].
A man with sunglasses and a gray beard runs through one of the Haarlem streets. In his hands he holds two garbage bags that are filled to the brim with cans, cartons of drinks and plastic wrappers. Occasionally he bends down to pick up something from the street.
Future for youth
It is Paul Waye from Haarlem who, on his own initiative, is already collecting dirt from the streets of Haarlem. The idea came about 11 years ago when Paul was in the UK for work. “I thought, what if I take a few garbage bags with me on every run? It’s a small effort, but it has a lot of impact,” says Paul. Once in the Netherlands, he decides to continue the initiative.
With a garbage bag and running shoes, he can now be found regularly in the Haarlem streets. In his own words, he often collects more than 100 kilos per month. “I want to give youth a future. At the same time I am proud of Haarlem, proud of the Netherlands. I think it is tragic how we treat our living environment.”
“Even during marathons I pick up litter”
“If you want to start a citizens’ initiative, always start small. Don’t think too big right away. In the case of collecting waste, for example, start with one can a day and expand it further. In addition, it is important to realize that you have an initiative don’t have to realize it alone. Gather friends, colleagues and acquaintances around you who can help you.”
Not only does Paul collect waste during training rounds. He is also active in competitions. “Even during marathons I pick up litter.” He takes it with him for the entire round and then throws it away neatly after the finish.
Garbage-picking influencer
Paul has now grown into a garbage-picking influencer. He shares his projects on social media. He also has his own YouTube channel. Nowadays, the Haarlemmer doesn’t have to go alone alone. “Every first Saturday of the month we take to the streets with a group. I always carry a speaker with me with music for fun. It is then a kind of disco waste collection.”
Paul is proud of what he has achieved so far. “The activity is not only healthy for you, but also for the planet.” The Haarlemmer will continue in the coming years. Giving up is not an option for him. His wish is that more and more people follow his initiative. “I hope that one day someone will come up to me and say, ‘I used to throw cans on the street, but because of you I won’t do that anymore’.”
Earlier we spoke to Paul Waye during his clean-up session after King’s Day. Watch the video below:
Paul Waye, plogger on King’s Day – NH News
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