Noord Council Approves New Waste Collection Schedule, Changes Roll Out From September

Noord City Council voted Tuesday evening to implement a new schedule for kerbside rubbish and recycling collection, bringing the first major overhaul of the system since 2017. The change, laid out in council’s published service timetable, will affect more than 22,000 households across the municipality. Residents in Alkmaar, Bridgefield and Central Noord will be among the first to receive notices outlining adjusted pickup days, according to the official meeting agenda.

Why the Change Now

The new arrangement comes after the council’s Infrastructure Division tabled a report showing increased missed pickups and rising complaints over late collections in the past twelve months. In the most recent quarterly service report, the city recorded more than 1,200 service complaints linked to delayed or missed waste collections across Noord. Policy analysts say population growth in the central and western suburbs, coupled with contractor turnover, put pressure on existing routes. The council aims to streamline service and address overtime costs flagged in its 2025-2026 budget.

For residents, the adjusted schedule means an end to some longstanding collection routines. Most notably, Bridgefield’s Thursday rubbish pickups will move to Wednesday mornings from September 4. In Alkmaar, biweekly recycling will shift to alternating Fridays, affecting roughly 3,100 households. The council says it will deliver customised service calendars to all affected homes by early August. Residents are urged to check the mailed notice or the city website to confirm their new set-out days to avoid missed pickups. Local advocates note that for shift workers and multi-generational families, even minor timing changes can disrupt household routines and require new planning.

Numbers Behind the Switch

According to published budget figures, the waste overhaul is projected to save Noord approximately €210,000 in annual overtime and routing costs starting in FY 2026-27. The Infrastructure Division’s report, tabled at Tuesday’s meeting, also points to a possible reduction of over 15,000 kilometres driven by collection vehicles each year after streamlining routes. Policy documentation shows that the new schedules will allow for the accommodation of up to 2,800 additional households by 2030, matching population forecasts published in the 2026 Local Area Plan. The new contracts, awarded through a competitive tender last month, will see household collection windows shortened from up to 11 hours to a maximum of 8 hours per day, a move that city officers say should reduce the chance of late pickup spillage and noise complaints.

Council officers confirmed on Tuesday that all residents will receive advance written notice by mail at least four weeks before changes take effect. Digital reminders will be posted on the official Noord waste app and social media feeds from August 5. The full rollout is expected by September 12, with a two-week grace period during which crews will double-check for set-out rubbish outside new collection times. City staff have been directed to provide additional bins and support for residents with disabilities throughout the transition period, according to council policy paper WK-26-77. Ongoing review is scheduled for December 2026 to address any issues arising from the new service regime.