Utrecht has taken a significant step toward a cleaner, more circular future with the opening of its first Droppie recycling hub at Smaragdplein 249.
This innovative store offers a seamless, tech-driven solution for responsibly disposing of everyday items—from beverage containers and batteries to electronics, textiles, pens, used coffee pots, cooking oil, mattresses, and even tennis balls.
Droppie is making recycling more accessible for the everyday consumer looking to properly manage their waste.
Behind the scenes of the facility is a smart sorting bot that recognises different waste materials and automatically places them into the correct recycling category, ensuring they’re processed responsibly.
To make the experience even more user-friendly, Droppie has also developed the Droppie app that makes recycling fun and easy. Users can recycle items like plastic packaging, wine corks, cooking oil, and ink cartridges—each offering a different payout. You can check which items are accepted and their corresponding value directly through the Droppie app.
“Droppie started from my frustration with seeing garbage left next to bins or scattered in the streets. With Droppie, we hope to offer a real solution to that,” says Stef Traa, Droppie’s founder.
The statiegeld (deposit system) has already gained popularity in the Netherlands, but Droppie takes it a step further, providing a centralised, efficient location for recycling a wider range of materials. The money earned from recycling is credited to your Droppie account and can either be transferred directly to your bank or donated to a charity of your choice.
Recycling Made Accessible
Droppie is set to open a total of 8 locations in 2025 across cities like The Hague, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Utrecht, and hopefully more! Be sure to check out this all-in-one recycling hub the next time you’re returning your plastic bottles and recyclable waste.
To keep up with Droppie (Read full article here >>) and other recycling initiatives, check reflawn’s socials.
All images @godroppie
What can I recycle at Droppie?
You can recycle items like plastic packaging, beverage containers, electronics, batteries, textiles, corks, ink cartridges, pens, mattresses, and even tennis balls
How does Droppie work?
A smart bot scans and sorts your items into the correct recycling category. It’s quick and tech-friendly.
Do I get paid for recycling?
Yes, you receive a payout based on the items you recycle. You can transfer it to your bank account or donate it to a charity via the app.
Is Droppie linked to statiegeld?
Yes, Droppie supports the statiegeld system and aims to go beyond it by recycling more diverse materials.
