A new step: one and a half years in the world of waste and circularity

A year and a half ago, we at Binfinity stepped into the world of waste and sustainability. Since then, we have been working on developing our own products within this sector — a step that was exciting at first, but has proven to be above all educational and motivating.

What struck me right away is how important this sector is. Waste management is about much more than garbage trucks and containers. It’s about circularity, reuse, behavioural change — and ultimately about how we treat the world of tomorrow. Technology plays an important role in this. By using electronics and software in smart ways, we can contribute to a cleaner, better-organised waste chain.

That makes the work tangible. It’s rewarding to build something that truly matters.

The waste sector is multifaceted. You work with all kinds of parties at the same time: municipalities, collectors, policymakers, and companies. And it’s rarely just about technology. There are interests at play, legislation, public opinion — and all of it is constantly evolving.

Tenders are a good example of this. They are often formal and slow, but they do offer room to stand out. And because the sector is relatively small, the contact is personal. You quickly notice that collaboration is essential — and, in most cases, entirely possible.

As a smaller company, you can’t do everything at once. That forces you to make choices, sometimes difficult ones. But I believe that sustainable growth starts with yourself: not outsourcing everything, but building knowledge, gaining experience, and keeping your course steady.

In this industry, we work with parties who are sometimes clients and sometimes competitors. But most of the time, there is room for respectful collaboration, especially when the goal is shared. Industry organisations such as the NVRD play an important role in this — they provide structure and facilitate knowledge sharing.

What truly makes this sector unique is the influence of politics. Not everything is decided based on data or technology – societal goals, policy choices, and election promises also play a role. This makes it fascinating, but at times also challenging.

We also see a clear shift towards public collection. Municipalities are increasingly taking the lead. This has advantages, especially for long-term policies such as electrification. At the same time, I believe in the value of commercial parties. Market competition keeps things sharp and practical. That balance is both important and fragile.

What has pleasantly surprised me is the role of residents. When people gain insight into their own waste behaviour, they often start making changes naturally. You can see this in projects where we feed data back to households. These aren’t large-scale campaigns, but they are real steps forward — and ones we are happy to contribute to.

The waste sector is not a fast-moving market. Many decisions take time. But that also creates room for sustainable solutions and long-term relationships.

After a year and a half, I look back on an intense and educational period. Not everything was easy, but it has broadened my perspective. I’m glad we took this step, and I look forward to continuing to work together with municipalities, collectors, partners, and citizens to build a better-organised and more sustainable waste chain.

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Gijs Meuleman
CEO, Binfinity