Reinigingsdienst Vriendendam
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 July 2006 |
| Type | Municipal waste collection service |
| Jurisdiction | Vriendendam |
| Headquarters | Vriendendam, Gelderland |
| Employees | 52 (2026) |
| Annual budget | €8.48 million (2026) |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Municipality of Vriendendam |
Reinigingsdienst Vriendendam (RDV) is the municipal waste collection service of Vriendendam, Gelderland, Netherlands. Established on 1 July 2006, it collects household waste and operates the city's public recycling centre. The department is directed by Imro van Hetten.
History
[edit | edit source]Reinigingsdienst Vriendendam was established on 1 July 2006, following Vriendendam's separation from the municipality of Arnhem. Imro van Hetten, who operated a junkyard in Vriendendam, became its first director. The new department began with seven municipally owned vehicles, five of which were refuse collection trucks.
RDV initially collected residual household waste, paper and cardboard, and food and garden waste separately. In 2010, the municipality introduced separate household containers for plastic packaging and metal waste, bringing the number of waste categories collected from most houses to five. RDV purchased three additional DAF CF75 refuse trucks that year, each fitted with a Geesink rear-loading body. Its fleet consequently increased to ten vehicles.
Waste collection
[edit | edit source]RDV provides most houses in Vriendendam with five colour-coded waste containers. The system introduced in 2010 uses a red container for residual waste, purple for paper and cardboard, orange for plastic packaging, yellow for metal waste, and beige for food and garden waste.
The red, orange and beige containers are normally emptied every two weeks. Paper and cardboard are collected every four weeks, as is metal waste. During warmer months, RDV collects food and garden waste weekly. Apartment buildings may use shared collection facilities.
Collection crews empty the containers into rear-loading refuse trucks, with separate collection rounds for each waste category. Residents can bring waste unsuitable for household containers to the municipal recycling centre.
Facilities
[edit | edit source]RDV operates from a municipal vehicle depot in Vriendendam's industrial area. The original depot occupies approximately 4,800 m² and provides parking for the collection fleet. It also contains a workshop used to maintain the department's vehicles.
The municipality purchased a separate, undeveloped industrial plot in 2006 for a public recycling centre. Construction took place in 2007, and the facility opened in early 2008. The 3,600 m² site was built with paved access roads and designated collection areas for household waste.
The recycling centre accepts bulky household waste and materials requiring separate disposal. Residents can deliver scrap metal, discarded electrical equipment and timber that cannot be accommodated in their household containers. Household hazardous waste is received in a secured storage area.
RDV operates the centre under the management of a member of the Noord family, who reports to the department's director.
Organization and finances
[edit | edit source]RDV is a department of the municipality of Vriendendam. Its employees and vehicles fall under municipal administration, while Imro van Hetten directs the department's operations. Van Hetten has continued operating his family's junkyard alongside his municipal position.
The municipality finances household waste collection through the annual afvalstoffenheffing (waste collection tax). In 2026, the charge was €310 for a single-person household and €400 for a household with multiple occupants. The standard household collection service is covered by this charge.
RDV's annual operating budget in 2026 was €8.48 million. The department employed 52 people and operated a fleet of 16 vehicles, consisting of twelve refuse collection trucks, two hook-lift trucks and two service vehicles. The municipality owns the entire fleet.