Garbage disposal

In general

The collecting and disposal of household garbage costs money. This comes to a total amount of about 25 million euro each year. In the city of Groningen, these costs are covered completely by the proceeds of garbage disposal.

The general principle is this: the more people are living in a house, the more garbage is produced. This is why the rates for garbage disposal are related to the number of residents per address.

If you move to a different city, the city of Groningen will automatically reduce the amount of garbage disposal for the months that you do not live in Groningen anymore. Are you moving to Groningen within the (calender)year? Than you will pay garbage disposal for the months that you live in Groningen in that year.

Frequently asked questions about garbage disposal

1. Who must pay for garbage disposal?
2. What is the rate of garbage disposal?
3. Is the rate of garbage disposal related to the amount of garbage that I produce?
4. Does a change in the number of residents in the course of the year have consequences for the rate that I have to pay?
5. I have moved to an other city in the year 2011. Does this automatically reduce the bill for garbage disposal?
6. I moved to Groningen during the year 2011. Do I still get a taxbill for garbage disposal?
7. I do not agree with the taxbill for garbage disposal in my name. How can I make an appeal?
8. Can people with an minimal income ask for a reduction of the taxbill?
9. I live in a studenthouse and I have received a taxbill for garbage disposal in my name. Why have I received a taxbill and the other residents have not?
10. I live in a studenthouse and I have received a taxbill for garbage disposal. Why has the taxbill not been sent to the landlord?

 

1. Who must pay for garbage disposal?

The residents of houses, caravans (mobile homes) and houseboats.

2. What is the rate of garbage disposal?

The rate of the taxbill concerning garbage disposal is related to the number of residents. The city of Groningen distinguishes between a one-person household, a two-person household, a household consisting of 3-7 people and a household of more than 8 people. T

he rates for the year 2012 are:

• a one-person household: € 265,92
• a two-persons household: € 308,64
• a three to seven people household  € 369,48
• a household consisting of more than eight people: € 486,48

3. Is the rate of garbage disposal related to the amount of garbage I produce?

No, the rate of garbagedisposal is only related to the number of residents in the household (see information above). How much garbage you produce, is irrelevant.

4. Does a change in the number of residents in the course of the the year have consequences for the rate that I have to pay?

No. The number of residents that are registered in the Municipal Records Database on January 1st determines the taxrate for that year. If people move during the (calender)year, resulting in a different number of people living at an address, it will not effect the rate of the taxbill.

5. I have moved to an other city in the year 2011. Does this automatically reduce the bill for garbagedisposal?

Yes, you will automatically receive a reduction of the taxbill for garbage disposal for the number of months that you are not registered in the city of Groningen. The date of deregistration from the Municipal Records Database determines the reduction of the bill.

6. I moved to Groningen during the year 2011. Do I still get a taxbill for garbage disposal?

Yes, you will receive a taxbill for garbage disposal for your new address for the period that you live in Groningen in that year. However, if you move to an address where there is already a taxbill, i.e. you move in with someone who is already paying for garbage disposal, than you will not receive a taxbill in your name.

7. I do not agree with the taxbill for garbage disposal in my name. How can I make an appeal?

There are two ways in which you can make an appeal:

1. by the digital form
2. In writing (P.O.Box 30026, 9700 RM Groningen)

• You need to submit your appeal within six weeks after the date stated on the bill.
• You need to mention the following information in your appeal: name, address, taxbill number, the reason(s) you disagree with the bill and your signature.
• Within seven days you will receive a letter stating that we have received your appeal.
• If you make an appeal, it does not automatically mean that you get an extension of payment. If you want an extension, you should request this specifically in the appeal. It is only possible to request an extension for the part of bill you disagree with.
• If you are paying automatically (automatische incasso), it is not necessary to cancel it. If your appeal is approved, you will automatically receive the money in you bankaccount or it will be settled with the remaining payment terms.

8. Can people with an minimal income ask for a reduction (kwijtschelding) of the taxbill?

Yes, if you have a minimum income (social welfare) and you do not have much savings, it is possible that you are eligible for a reduction of the bill. We look at your income, your expenditures and your savings on the date that you hand in your request for the reduction.

To make it easier for you, the city of Groningen cooperates with the district waterboard. This makes it possible to request a reduction for the bill from the district waterboard and the bill for for garbage disposal at the same time.

You can test your income online to see if you are eligible for the reduction.

You can request the reduction via the garbage disposal reduction form.
You also need to hand in copies of certain documents. This is mentioned on the form. You can hand in the form with the copies at the desk, or you can send it to the municipal tax department of the city of Groningen, P.O.Box 30026, 9700 RM Groningen.

You need to hand in the form within 3 months after the date on the bill!

9. I live in a studenthouse and have received the taxbill for garbage disposal in my name. Why have I received a taxbill and other people have not?

A studenthouse is seen as one address regarding the taxbill for garbage disposal. The city of Groningen cannot send taxbills for garbage disposal to each of the students seperately. For a studenthouse there will always be one taxbill.

The city of Groningen has to send the taxbill to one of the residents. The taxbill is send to the resident who is registered the longest on January 1st of each year. The resident who gets the taxbill in his/her name can split the costs of the taxbill among the other residents so that each resident pays his/her share.

10. I live in a studenthouse and I have received the taxbill for garbage disposal. Why has the taxbill not been sent to the landlord?

The city of Groningen has to send the taxbill for garbage disposal to the resident or, if there are more residents, to the resident who is registered the longest. If the landlord does not live in the house and is not registered at the address, the taxbill cannot be send to the landlord.

There is one exception to this rule; the landlord and the resident who has the taxbill in his/her name, both sign an agreement in which they agree that the city of Groningen may send the taxbill for garbage disposal directly to the landlord. However, in signing this contract, the resident waives his/her right to request a reduction of the bill (afvalstoffenheffing).