Litter is a common problem, but Peter Rosiers decided to take action. He is a 'Mooimaker' (someone who makes things beautiful) dedicated to a cleaner neighborhood. He realized he wanted to contribute after seeing the amount of waste cleaned up daily in sportpark Hemelrijk.
Every Monday morning, Peter heads out for about three hours. Armed with a grabber and trash bags, he tidies up parts of Sint-Jansstraat, the cycle path, Kalmthoutsesteenweg, and Huybergsebaan. Sometimes the results are disheartening: along 400 meters of the Antwerpsesteenweg, he once collected three full trash bags, two PMD bags, an air fryer, a wooden board, and several insulation panels.
Drink cans, cigarette butts, and food packaging are the most frequently encountered items. While the amount of waste can seem discouraging, Peter finds satisfaction in his work. People often approach him, thank him, or strike up a conversation, and the reactions are always positive.
For Peter, being a 'Mooimaker' is a simple way to make a visible difference. He chooses when to go out and does something useful for his community. Furthermore, he helps protect animals from waste that could injure or sicken them.
Anyone with spare time who wants to use their talents for a better, more beautiful, or cozier neighborhood can visit iedereenvrijwilliger.be to easily find volunteer work nearby or be matched based on their interests.
