In August and September, many students move into their new homes. This was evident from the poll on our Instagram: half of the respondents have already moved, and ten per cent are still planning to move.
Bringing it to a collection depot or arranging pickup
Each year, bulky waste inspectors find furniture and boxes on the streets from students who are moving, even though 70 per cent of our respondents say they properly bring their bulky waste to a collection point.
Unfortunately, not every student is able to do this. “Taking your old furniture to a collection depot or a thrift store is not an option if you don’t have a car”, says student Nina. You can have your bulky waste picked up, but it’s not always free. Nina, who doesn’t live in Rotterdam, says her municipality charges twenty euros for a pickup appointment. Often, the appointment can also take up to three weeks to happen. “That means you either have to plan way ahead or live with bulky waste in your home for several weeks”, she says. “And twenty euros is not cheap, especially for furniture you got for free from Marktplaats.” Nina understands that bulky waste on the street is a problem, “But to solve that, it’s also crucial to make sustainable options more accessible.”
An idea: exchange point
An employee from the Erasmus School of Economics points out that new students, especially internationals, often don’t know how to dispose of their waste. “Instead of fining students for improper disposal, landlords should provide better information to new students”, he says. “And why isn’t there a second-hand exchange point for student items? That way, they don’t have to buy new stuff. Yes, there are thrift stores, but they are far away.”
Taking items with you
Almost fifty per cent of Instagram poll respondents have occasionally looked for reusable items in bulky waste on the street. And sometimes with great finds: from a toy Mini Cooper (‘taking that with me right away!’) to Nike Air Max shoes (‘unfortunately, the shoes were a size too small’). One respondent’s biggest find: an old, working wooden piano.
You can bring bulky household waste to a municipal collection point for free. You can also have your bulky waste picked up. In Rotterdam, this service is free of charge. For more information on how to dispose of your bulky waste, click here.
