The Structure of the Dutch Waste Sector and Impediments for Waste Reduction

Abstract

The way in which organizations collect, treat and dispose of waste in The Netherlands frustrates the achievement of waste reduction goals. The possibility that directed modification of the structure of the waste sector may contribute to stimulating consumers (i.e. all waste producers using services from collectors) to limit the generation of waste at the source by means of source reduction, re-use and recycling, is the subject of research of which the first results are presented here. This article describes the structure of the Dutch waste sector and indicates impediments for waste reduction linked to it. The analysis starts with a categorization of organizations with vested interests in the handling of waste. The ways in which these organizations manage to gain influence on the manner in which waste is handled will be explained, as well as the mutual relationships between organizations. © 1997 ISWA