Changing practices in waste collection. The separate collection of plastic waste in the Netherlands.

Abstract

Since 1 January 2010 the separate collection of plastic waste is obligated in the Netherlands. All Dutch municipalities are obligated to provide the facilities which enable their households to collect plastic waste of separately. It turns out that the separate collection is quite successful. This is remarkable, since it is for the households voluntary and it asks a change in the daily practices of households. In literature on sustainable development the notion of transition is very often used. But this has in many cases led to a strong focus on technology and an ignorance of the role of everyday’s life, routines and practices in changes of socio-technical systems. This research focuses on the changing practices. Important in this context is the theory of practices, which sees practices as combinations of three elements, namely image, competence and artefact. This research has conducted 24 interviews with important actors involved in the separate collection of plastic waste. These interviews were necessary in order to identify all the views, opinions, images, routines and behaviours of households, but also the stories of the authorities that are involved. The conclusion is that the separate collection of plastic waste can be seen as a new combination of mainly already existing elements, like environment is important, similar competences and artefacts combined with a number of new elements. This new combination resulted in a new practice. Without the one of these elements, it is very likely that there would have been another outcome, since these three elements really form this new practice.