The Truth about Trash in The Netherlands

As an American, trash has never been an important issue in my life. There really has only ever been one trash-related question, "do you recycle?" Like a choose your own adventure novel, the potential answers offer a few different paths.

Path 1-- Yes.
Directions: Proceed to recycling bin with glass, plastic, paper, etc.

Path 2--Yes, but only certain items because our city does not process everything.
Directions: Proceed to recycling bin with "yes" items, toss all others in the trash.

Path 3--No.
Directions: Toss all items into the trash.

However, I have come to understand that The Netherlands does not espouse such simplicity. While certainly an adventure, Dutch waste disposal does not allow you to opt out of thinking about your waste.

The trash system as I understand it is as follows:

Step 1: Purchase special waste disposal bag. This bag is available at your local grocery store.

Step 2: Sort Waste
This is where things get tricky because one must learn to differentiate different garbage types. Proceed cautiously.

Garbage Types:
Type 1--"Normal Waste" We will return to this description because let's face it, to an American, pretty much all waste is normal. See Path 3.
Type 2--"Green Waste" Do not confuse this with the American "recyclable" category. This must include only compostable waste, veggies, etc.
Type 3--"Paper Waste" Paper products.
Type 4--"Special Trash" This seems to be everything else that does not quite fit into the other categories i.e. glass bottles, plastic bottles, cartons, and tins. For the most part, recyclables=special trash. However, not all plastics qualify as "special trash" some must go into the "normal trash." Thus, "normal trash" becomes the other category.

Step 3: Dispose of Waste
Now where this gets truly complex is at the pick up stage. The average American town features the easy to remember weekly pick up system.

Not Maastricht.

The trash schedule in Maastricht is as follows:
Every Wednesday-Normal Waste
Every Other Wednesday-Green Waste
Every Other Month-Paper Waste
Never-Special Waste Note: Special waste is to be dropped off at various specified locations. With no car in sight, this means biking the trash up the street.

This complex system of waste disposal offers but one path: Keep written trash explanation and schedule near trash receptacle.

So this is the adventure I have chosen, trash charts in the kitchen and carrying garbage up the street on my bicycle.

The truth about trash is that I never really thought much about it, and now I'm going to have to think about it, sort it, and carry it around.