Earning money by collecting old paper and cardboard is no longer an option for the associations in ‘t Gooi. The big question now is how the clubs can earn some good pocket money. A question that so far remains unanswered by both the associations and waste collector GAD.
Collecting old paper was a clear and simple job. Hans Haselager, chairman of sports club HSV Wasmeer, emphasizes that the power of this campaign, which helped the Hilversum club earn some extra money for over forty years, was in its simplicity. Now that the collection of waste paper due to budget cuts has been completely in the hands of the Goosie waste worker GAD since this year, it is now time to look for a simple alternative.
Quite a challenge
In practice, this means that finding a solution for many Gooi associations is rather abstract. This is also confirmed by Sven Blessing, chairman of Show and Drumband Vijos from Bussum. “It will still be a challenge to find something new,” he tells NH News† “In practice, an alternative to a different way of collecting waste appears to be very difficult for us as clubs,” says Haselager.
And an alternative is needed for various clubs, because they collected a lot of money with the collection of the old paper. Vijos is an example of this. The collection yielded the Bussumers 14,000 euros annually, a large part of the budget. The club filed an appeal against the decision, but ultimately backed down and abandoned an appeal.
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silent hope
Show and Drumband Vijos may forgo a legal follow-up, but according to chairman Sven Blessing, the association is now focusing on local politics in Gooise Meren. The hope is and remains that the austerity measure will be reversed, so that the clubs can continue collecting old paper and cardboard.
Contact has been made with the VVD and Hart voor Bussum, Naarden, Muiden and Muiderberg. Both parties appear to be returning to the new coalition. Together with more associations from the municipality, Vijos hopes to bring about a policy change.
Although the GAD will compensate the clubs for the first three years – the associations will receive three times the proceeds of 2020 – Vijos is at a loss. They will miss a large amount per year and there is also a lack of a clear alternative for the collection of waste paper. Blessing says that Vijos himself is also looking at obtaining more income, but the concerns remain great because it concerns a large sum of money.
Suitable solution
What matters is that there is still time. The Gooise clubs will receive the compensation until 2024. In the meantime, the GAD is looking for good and, above all, appropriate solutions, together with the associations and the Gooi municipalities. The waste worker himself does not yet know what that alternative or the alternatives are. The regional authority wants to discuss this jointly. In doing so, she hopes for the input of the discussion partners.
Halfway through next month there will be a meeting where representatives of the municipalities and clubs can express their ideas. This session should be the start of a solution direction. “Our field of work is very broad. It is more than waste collection. It is also, for example, a part of education and awareness”, a spokesperson for the GAD reports.
Christmas trees
“There are many things to think of. Maybe they can do something with the collection of the Christmas trees”, is an example. For the past two years, the collection of the trees has been anything but according to plan at the GAD.
The clubs are open to the discussion with the GAD and certainly want to think along. Haselager does mention that he finds it strange that the regional organization should help with this process, after they have had to cut costs. “They are already under pressure. They have had to make cutbacks and then they have to guide associations in this. That must be done by another part of the municipality. I do not understand that decision.”