Catchy idea for waste paper
It is an ingenious yet simple idea: the 'Oud Papier Binder (OPB)' (Waste Paper Binder) by entrepreneur Irmgard Kreuze. Because we warmly support this sustainable initiative, we sponsored the first practical trial in Roermond.
The idea was conceived two years ago. Irmgard Kreuze never had all of her waste paper ready when the collection service drove into the street. ‘Isn't there an easier way?’ she thought, and she started brainstorming. She soon came up with the OPB: a sturdy piece of card to which twisted paper twine is attached crosswise. The card is placed in the bottom of a crate. Once it has been piled full of waste paper, the four pieces of twine are tied together to create a manageable parcel.
“I wanted to do things properly, and carried out the necessary preliminary work,” says Irmgard Kreuze. She studied the originality, feasibility and environmental aspects of her idea, and she learned about the waste paper chain. She also enrolled at the Small Business Academy in Venlo and wrote a business plan.
Gerard IJff, alderman of the municipality of Roermond, was immediately touched by the entrepreneur's enthusiasm. In early March, the mayor and aldermen approved a two-month practical trial in the Hoogvonderen neighbourhood. Irmgard Kreuze approached businesses to make the trial financially feasible. “My first presentation was for Henk van Houtum. He supported the idea and agreed to provide some sponsoring.”
“The 'Oud Papier Binder' fits perfectly in our pursuit of corporate social responsibility," says Managing Director Henk van Houtum, explaining his enthusiastic commitment. “The invention makes it much easier for households to separate their paper waste. Many kilos of paper are still thrown out with the rubbish each year, which is a real shame. Moreover, the binder itself is fully recyclable, because the card and twine are made of recycled paper.”
Alderman IJff explains that the trial was evaluated after the summer by means of a survey conducted among the inhabitants. “One-third of the more than 1200 participating households responded. On average people were very satisfied. The cardboard box continues to be the main 'competitor', but that can change if the OPB is easily obtainable in the neighbourhood.”
The municipality of Roermond is currently considering where to go from here. There are a few options: continue the trial in Hoogvonderen, roll out the trial in the rest of Roermond or distribute the OPB through local supermarkets.