Last year’s Voluntary Local Review grants an opening towards the projects in place by the Utrecht municipality as well as organizations in the city tackling different issues such as food availability, material waste, and efforts in greening Utrecht. There are some incongruencies within the report that struck me.

For one, the mention of the lack of knowledge that the municipality has regarding soil and its pollutants when run-off in soil due to intense agriculture is a main issue in the Netherlands. I have seen eutrophication in the canals passing the city center, these algae blooms suffocate marine ecosystems since they prevent sunlight or oxygen from entering. 

Survey findings show that 71% of residents claim to segregate trash to help preserve the environment, yet households in Utrecht waste approximately 34.3 kg of food per person per year. Preserving the environment also comes with lessening how much waste is produced, as this lessens the amount of incineration needed- as solid domestic waste is managed that way in Utrecht. This contradictory mindset comes with a lack of awareness that needs municipality-arranged campaigns educating about one’s cumulative impact on the planet.

The report provides extensive information on successful changes that significantly increase sustainable practices and make them accessible, but that does not mean that there is no space for thought and change.

To read a more extensive review of this report, click on the attached PDF.