The municipality of Pratteln – responding to the residents’ call for waste separation

Where there are people, there is waste. An evolving municipality like Pratteln in the Swiss canton of Basel-Landschaft needs a smart waste disposal system that preserves the historic village centre’s charm while accentuating the urban vibe of the new residential districts. Following the switch from standard steel bins to the Littershark, the local residents were delighted. What won them over in particular was the combination of litter bin, ashtray and Shark Dog. The 70-litre and 110-litre Littersharks were so popular that the municipality decided to offer its residents the opportunity to separate their waste correctly. This went down well with the waste-conscious people of Pratteln, who were now able to dispose of their waste in Littersharks with a three-way separation system at both the north and south train stations.

However, while this convenient system with separate slots for waste, aluminium and plastic made sense on paper, it gave rise to new problems in practice. Sacks of used PET bottles from households were ending up in the two Littersharks at Pratteln’s train station, which soon led to the bins overflowing. There was still plenty of space in the bins for general waste and aluminium, but staff from the depot had to be deployed to empty the chock-full containers for plastic. A new solution was needed! The local council decided to adapt the separation system for the two Littersharks at the train station and also put stickers on them saying ‘No household waste’. Residents can now return their PET bottles to supermarkets for free , and the Littersharks at the train station are only used for aluminium and general rubbish, meaning less work for the depot workers.

 

 

The 70-litre and 110-litre Littersharks were so popular that the municipality decided to offer its residents the opportunity to separate their waste correctly.

 

After some initial teething problems, the disposal system in the municipality of Pratteln now works like clockwork. After completing their emptying rounds, the depot staff sort the bags of aluminium waste and dispose of them at one of seven disposal points in the village. The normal waste then ends up in the compactor skip at the Pratteln depot together with other rubbish. It’s an efficient, effective and environmentally friendly system!

 

municipality of Pratteln

The workshop employees sort the bags of aluminum waste after their collection routes and dispose of them at one of the seven disposal points in the village.

Facts about the project and the customer

  • 17,000 residents

  • 70-litre Littersharks in use

  • 110-litre and 150-litre Littersharks in busy locations

  • 7 collection points in the village

Thomas Weiss, Deputy Depot Manager

The separation system is a great thing. But it’s ultimately down to the people to play their part and use the system correctly.

Impressions of the project

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