With the “Click” Fost Plus is counting on the active participation of the general public in the fight against litter. By rewarding them for their good behaviour, we aim to make them “click” about not throwing or leaving rubbish on the ground. The concept is simple: every time they throw packaging or another item of waste in the (correct) rubbish bin, they can scan this via an app on their smartphone. By doing so, they collect points – the so-called Circular UCoins – which they can then exchange at local merchants.
In the summer of 2020, De Haan was the first commune to sign up to a Click pilot project. Despite the restrictions because of the coronavirus measures, this first project immediately yielded highly promising results. The contents of the litter bins in the streets were taken to a special pre-sorting centre, so that the last recyclable packaging could be separated from the residual waste. This packaging could then be included in the regular PMD recycling circuit.
The Click now has 75,000 users who, all together, have clicked 650,000 times. Nine communes, towns and cities have joined in, along with a number of large companies including Jacobs Douwe Egberts and Coca-Cola. The initiative is also supported by organisations like the nature conservation association Natuurpunt and the app has been integrated into the KBC Mobile app. In other words, the Click is gradually developing into a real social movement.
