Amsterdam ranks first in
the category of waste and land use. The city
recycles around 43% of its waste, second only to
Helsinki, and is only a moderate producer of
waste in the first place. In terms of land use,
Amsterdam is a compact city. The Netherlands is
densely populated and green spaces are highly
protected; in Amsterdam this is covered by the
Main Green Structure urban plan, which covers
parks and other green areas. A “wedge structure”
provides green spaces that reach deep into the city from the surrounding green belt. The
waterways around the city are a further type of
green space.
Initiatives: Much of the city bus network uses
fuel from the Waste and Energy Company, which
has been generated from waste.
An information campaign — Platform for
Information about Waste products — has long
been the main instrument for reducing municipal
waste.
A green subsidies plan provides financing
for investment in green spaces, such as the
city parks, cemeteries and recreational areas.
The city provided €20 million for this fund in
2007-08