Meer Koet, Minder Afval

Handwoven nesting structures give urban birds a safe place to breed. When coots move in, they become partners in the project: as they build their nests, they remove human waste from the canals. After the breeding season, we collect and recycle it.

The jury on More Coots, Less Waste:

More Coots, Less Waste shows how existing craftsmanship can become relevant again through an unexpected application. A centuries-old weaving technique is given a completely new context and is used to address a social and ecological issue. What is special is that the design is developed not for humans, but for animals as users. This collaboration between humans and animals sets the project apart and at the same time draws attention to the impact of litter on nature. By using the material and the craft technique in this way, the result is a design that not only raises awareness, but also gives renewed meaning to certain knowledge and skills.

How did the idea for this project come about?

The idea emerged in 2024, when Jaron moved onto a boat in Ghent with Ida and their dog Javel. Among the boats, Jaron noticed carefully constructed structures made from rope, cardboard, twigs and plastic packaging in and around the water. They turned out to be the nests of waterbirds – coots! Their knack for using human waste as building material sparked a question: could we harness this adaptive behaviour and team up with these urban birds to make our waterways cleaner?

How does it contribute to a better world?

Using a traditional craft technique, we create safe nesting sites for waterbirds in the city, where suitable locations are scarce. At the same time, we work with coots to remove waste from the water together. The project highlights the amount of rubbish and gives the collected materials a second life. It demonstrates how humans and other species can share spaces and form relationships in a different way, encouraging a caring approach to our shared environment.

Do you have any further plans for this project?

Yes – we want to develop the project further in Ghent and soon in Bruges, eventually expanding it to other cities and waterways. We’re exploring how the nesting structures can be made more sustainable and adaptable to different urban environments and strengthening our collaboration with local birds, craftspeople, schools, researchers and nature conservation organisations. We’re also running workshops to share the art of willow weaving and continuing to build a caring relationship with other species in our shared environment.