Meer Koet, Minder Afval is a collaborative project between humans and their more-than-human environment. Informed by art and design methodologies, it is grounded in everyday life. Through the project, we ask how we can meaningfully collaborate with the waterbirds that share our urban environments. How can their needs and our needs align, and how can we make things a little better, day by day?

If you would like to support our team, learn more about what we are working on, or check in on how the waterbirds in Ghent are doing, feel free to get in touch with us.

The Team

Jaron Vandevelde is an artist and designer from Ghent. The project grew out of his Master's in Autonomous Design at KASK. You'll usually find him either in the studio or spotting waterbirds along the canals of Ghent with his dog, Javel. Together with Ida, he is a founding member of the artist collective collabradors, under which they run the project.

Ida Bomm is an artist from Germany, currently based in Ghent. Since the 2026 edition, she has been responsible for the project's storytelling through her visual work. Together with Jaron, she is a founding member of the artist collective collabradors under which they run the project.

Elisabeth De Vestele is an artist and dedicated bird lover. In January–February 2026, she joined the willow weaving in the studio, and thanks to her involvement, one of the platforms will be dedicated to the great crested grebe (Dutch: fuut).

Meer Koet, Minder Afval is a project developed and facilitated by the artist collective collabradors.

Leticia Weber is a biologist from Brazil with a master's degree in water quality and management, who has been living in Belgium since 2021. Within the project, she contributes to the ecological assessment, with a focus on biodiversity and ecosystem services.