The Hague and the dirty waterways

Canals, ponds and other waterways in The Hague are cleaning up their act. Since the beginning of September 2009 the municipality has been taking a more active approach to cleaning up litter in The Hague’s waterways. The municipality has joined forces with the Delfland Water Board within the framework of the ‘Den Haag Schoon’ (The Hague Clean Up) campaign.

According to Deputy Mayor Rabin Baldewsingh (Liveability: ‘I stand by public areas which are clean and maintained in every sense of the word 'complete'. This means no litter on the street, in the parks or in the water. By removing rubbish even more often, I hope to encourage everyone to contribute towards combating litter.’

Five days a week

A boat will sail down The Hague’s canals five days a week to fish out rubbish. Other bodies of water, such as ditches, will be cleaned up from the embankment. Five Omnigroen teams will work from Monday to Friday to remove garbage from the water throughout the city. The municipality is working closely together with the Delfland Water Board, which is responsible for the quality of the city’s surface water.

Complete service

Unfortunately much of the rubbish in the water is blown in from the banks. A fifth Omnigroen team will now be deployed for water maintenance. This team will focus on taking care of complaints and helping in times of calamity.

Separating plastic

A great deal of plastic (bottles and packaging) is found among the litter fished out of the canals and other waterways. Plastic breaks down extremely slowly but it can be used again. That’s why the municipality started the separate collection of plastic packaging as of November 2009 at 40 plastic bins throughout the city. Residents of The Hague can also take these empty plastic products to the garbage and recycling stations.

Den Haag Schoon

The ‘Den Haag Schoon!’ (The Hague Clean Up) campaign officially started in January 2008. Its goal is to make The Hague a whole lot cleaner in two years thereafter and to keep it clean.

Link : http://www.denhaag.nl/en/residents/nature-and-environment/to/Extra-measures-for-cleaner-water.htm

I use to fish somes canals in the Hague and I never see a boat to clean up the rubbish. I contacted the gemente Den Haag fews ùonth ago, to said them how much somes canals are dirty, but nobody comes : not fair! Business as usual, we don't care, and no respect !