Get rid of your trash nuisance at the Trash Expofette

Shirley Brandeis

Let’s repeat: What is VuilnisOproer?

Van der Borden: “That is a movement of residents who have shown since 2020 that things must and, above all, can be done differently when it comes to garbage.”

Nice name too.
“You have the Eel Riots of 1886, the Potato Riots of 1917, the Jordan Riots of 1934 and now also the Garbage Riots. We are in the ranks of residents saying: this cannot be like this anymore.

And residents who are angry.
“Well, oh, no… Yes, we are angry. If you hold your buttocks in the same place for the hundredth time, you get angry. Or if the municipality seems satisfied, while residents still see many areas full of garbage. But we will not be angry. Our actions are often playful and we have now put the anger behind us through good cooperation with the municipality. We have been heard, we see public servants doing their jobs well.”

These shows are also fun.
“Happy, but with a serious message: this is what is happening, we can do this differently. And with a call: who will help?

Rare name, expofette.
“That is a combination of the words exhibition and relay. Because we hope that by showing the message we will pass it on to others as well.”

In the Plaza on the ground floor there are paving stones and inscriptions in bright colors. (Photo: provided)

What preceded these shows?
“First of all, the idea that loss is often a symptom of something bigger. For example, if frequent sweeping is not the solution, you need to look at why. Last year, together with civil servants, residents and designers, we started what is called ‘Clean, Healthy and Safe College’. We looked at four places, where they are often very dirty or unsafe. Places where many different problems meet. We asked ourselves the question: what is happening here, who comes and what do they do there and how do people interact?”

where are the hotspots?
“These are the candy routes between schools and shops on Pieter Calandlaan, Barajasweg on Sloterdijk, Osdorpplein and the industrial area in Sloterdijk. Sometimes we set up a tent in a shopping center in Osdorp, as if we were camping there, to collect information from visitors and residents. That attracted people and led to good conversations with the neighborhood.”

And solutions?

“Not 1, 2, 3. But knowledge about what is going on and how it has been handled so far. Apparently, it should be different. Thanks to collaboration with designers, also called social designers, you can look at things from a different perspective and thus reach different solutions . That takes time, you don’t get immediate results. You can see what we have tried every Friday this month from 10 am to 5 pm in the Plaza on the ground floor of the district office at Plein ’40-’45.

Exhibition at the district office in Plein ’40-’45. (Photo: provided)

What can you do there?
“Someone who is really angry can punch a punching bag full of garbage while listening to a little podcast about garbage. And boxing gloves of course. I know from my experience that this is a relief. There is more to do and see. Like the real estate method of factories on Sloterdijk. The problem is that people don’t know each other; it’s not the housing environment. Then the idea was put forward to bring people together through forest garden, which strives for a green city. The stones were raised and the garden laid out, and people came to see it. Suddenly a connection was made. And responsibility. That made the environment cleaner. Much cleaner than if you always sweep the same way or give a fine.

Will it work?

“Better than the previous approach. What says a lot is that Professor Kees Dorst, who teaches at a university in Australia in the field of non-disciplinary innovation, follows us with interest. Our approach, which includes social designers, appeals to him. His advice is: show what you do. That’s why we have put together this Waste Expofette. We show what we do, what we produce and where all the energy and money goes.

Where?

“Towards a new way of looking at waste problems. A way that works.”

This technique is part of it National Program Together New West. A learning curve is an important starting point in this program: trying things out to gain insight into what works well and what doesn’t. Would you like to help create a clean Nieuw-West yourself? Then look www.vuilnisoproer.nl for incentive groups/incentive campaigns and join us! You can report street litter to the municipality via 14020 or www.amsterdam.nl. There you will also find information on how to become a container recipient and the contact details of the local agent in your area, who you can contact with any questions or concerns.