From residual stream to circular raw material |
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| Eva Schouten,
Tuesday 21 April 2026 |
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| 97 sec |
Groen Xtra, part of Diamant Groep, UPPACT and VERHEES PRODUCTS have started a circular collaboration to retain and reuse a local plastic waste stream at a high level. Diamond-shaped bollards that have been used in public spaces for years and are now damaged or no longer needed are included in a new chain to preserve the value of the material. By preventing incineration, significant CO2 emissions are also avoided: every kilo of plastic that is not burned prevents approximately 3 kilos of CO2 emissions.
| Image via: VERHEES PRODUCTS |
In several parts of municipality of Tilburg, diamond-shaped bollards have been removed. This concerns around 513 bollards, together accounting for approximately 12 tonnes of plastic. Instead of disposing of these bollards as business waste, Groen Xtra and VERHEES PRODUCTS took the initiative to process them in a circular way.
Cost savings and circular reuse go hand in hand
Groen Xtra collects the bollards, removes the reflective strips and cleans the material so it is suitable for further processing. UPPACT then converts the bollards into new rPT planks and beams using the innovative Unwastor technique, in which the material is melted and pressed under pressure and friction into a high-quality, robust raw material. VERHEES PRODUCTS then uses this circular raw material in its production processes.
This collaboration keeps the plastic stream in use, saves thousands of euros in disposal costs and creates a transparent, circular chain in which collection, cleaning, processing and reuse are fully aligned.
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'Material that has been part of the city for years is given a new meaning, and we want to shape that with partners who share the same vision'
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 | | Image via: VERHEES PRODUCTS |
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Collaboration driven by social commitment
The municipality of Tilburg, client for the work carried out by Groen Xtra, is positive about the initiative because it aligns with its circularity goals. In addition, Groen Xtra and VERHEES PRODUCTS approach this project from a sense of social responsibility: 'Material that has been part of the city for years is given a new meaning, and we want to shape that with partners who share the same vision.'
In the coming period, the parties will explore which application is most suitable: an item that makes the value of circularity visible and gives something back to the environment where the material originated.
Room for design and education
The next step in the process is to connect with schools and associations in the municipality of Tilburg. Through the design challenge 'From bollard to showpiece', they are invited to give the planks and beams made from the recycled anti-parking bollards a new application in the region. Creative freedom is central. In this way, the parties close the chain at a local level and transform the bollards from a waste stream into a new high-quality raw material.
More information about the challenge can be found at: vanpaaltjetotpraaltje.nl
 | | Image via: VERHEES PRODUCTS |
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This article was previously published on March 27, 2026 on the website of Stad + Groen.
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