Organic waste & swill
Bin: Green containerBecomes biogas and compost.
Fruit, vegetable and garden waste and kitchen leftovers (swill) are wet and heavy. In residual waste that costs money and energy; collected separately they yield green energy and compost. In a catering kitchen, swill is also subject to stricter rules.
This belongs in it
- Peel, trimmings and cores
- Plate and pan leftovers
- Bread, rice, pasta and potatoes
- Coffee filters and tea bags without staples
- Small amounts of garden waste
- Meat and fish leftovers (swill)
This does not belong in it
- Packaging — including 'compostable' film
- Chewing gum, cigarette butts and vacuum bags
- Frying fat and oil (separate stream)
- Cat litter and animal manure
- Bioplastic cups and cutlery
What happens to it?
- 1. Separated in the kitchen
The canteen and kitchen have dedicated organic or swill bins, usually with a closed lid.
- 2. Collected cooled
Swill (kitchen waste containing animal material) falls under animal by-product rules and goes to an approved processor.
- 3. Digestion
In a digester, bacteria convert the material into biogas without oxygen.
- 4. Energy and compost
The biogas becomes green electricity or green gas; the remaining digestate becomes compost and fertiliser.
Where is it processed?
Processed at an approved digestion and composting plant; swill only at a processor approved for category 3 animal by-products.
This is what it becomes
Good to know
Rules and legislation
Swill falls under EU Regulation 1069/2009 on animal by-products (category 3) and may only go to a processor approved by the Dutch food safety authority (NVWA). The Circular Materials Plan additionally requires organisations to keep bio-waste separate — daily in professional kitchens.
Sources
The figures and rules on this page were checked against the following sources.
- Categorie 3-materiaal (dierlijke bijproducten)NVWA
- Verordening (EG) nr. 1069/2009 — dierlijke bijproductenEUR-Lex
- Gescheiden houden van bedrijfsafval en gevaarlijk afvalRijkswaterstaat — Circulair Materialenplan
Checked on 18 August 2026