Leaf Baskets

Moerdijk is phasing out leaf bins

Starting in the fall of 2025, the municipality of Moerdijk will no longer provide leaf bins. Anyone who still wishes to clean up leaves from municipal trees can request an additional organic waste bin free of charge. You must then use the additional bin for at least one year.

Why aren't leaf bins being installed anymore?

The old bins needed to be replaced, but they were often not used at all or used incorrectly. Trash that didn’t belong there ended up in them. Some of the bins were often empty or only half-full. Moreover, it’s actually a good thing for leaves to remain on the ground in parks. 

Why is it good to let leaves lie on the ground?

Leaf litter is good for the soil: it improves water management and promotes plant growth. Previously, leaf litter—if it wasn’t contaminated—was processed into compost on site. By letting nature handle that process on the spot from now on, transportation and processing are no longer necessary. 

Is the elimination a cost-cutting measure?

The leaf bins were due for replacement. Purchasing new leaf bins was expected to cost €98,000. In addition, collection costs about €25,000 annually. However, eliminating the bins is not so much about saving money as it is about managing leaf waste more effectively and sustainably. The €25,000 budget will be used to fund additional street-sweeping rounds.

How does the city prevent the streets from becoming cluttered?

Leaves on the sidewalk or street can cause slippery conditions. That is why the municipality continues to remove leaves from the pavement. Leaves are also cleared from public lawns and perennial plants to prevent them from being smothered. The €25,000 budget that had been set aside for installing, emptying, and removing the leaf bins will now be used for additional sweeping rounds in areas with many municipal trees and where the leaf bins were used reasonably often.