Sorting our food waste, and ensuring it is recovered as green energy or fertiliser, makes good sense. This has also become compulsory for all Brussels households since 15 May 2023. Let’s get sorting now! To help you do this, we offer you here all the information you need, plus good advice on sorting food waste in the Brussels Region. The planet thanks you for all your efforts to save it!
Sorting your food waste means giving it value !
Our food waste (leftovers, peelings, etc.) make up over a third of our household waste. When thrown away in the white bag for unsorted waste, it used to end up in the incinerator. Besides being a huge waste of resources, this produced significant greenhouse gas emissions.
It was high time to adopt new solutions! When sorted in the orange bag, our food waste is transformed into green energy and fertiliser. If this waste is added to compost, it can be used to fertilise soil for our parks, gardens and vegetable gardens.
To save resources and reduce our impact on the environment, the sorting of food waste is mandatory since May 2023 in the Brussels-Capital Region, for households as well as businesses and administrations.
Who must sort?
Everyone. Each individual’s contribution is essential to make this new approach effective!
Households (families, residents) in the Brussels Region are legally required to sort their food waste from 15 May 2023. All Brussels residents have to do so from this date, either by placing food waste in the orange bag, or by putting it in individual compost or taking it to a neighbourhood compost bin.
Companies and administrations must sort their food waste from 1 May 2023, and have it collected by an authorised collector. For more information on what companies are required to do, visit this page on the website of Brussels Environment: https://environnement.brussels
Even schools have to sort food waste! Very often, when it comes to doing the right thing for the environment, our children set a good example!
Three solutions
Brussels households have three solutions for sorting their food waste:
The orange bag, with or without a container
It is easy. All you have to do is put it out on the street each week along the front of your home.
Neighbourhood composting
Deposit your waste in a neighbourhood compost to produce 100% natural fertiliser and take action for the environment whilst socialising with your neighbours. It is also a great solution if you lack space at home.
Individual composting
You can start the adventure of home composting in your garden or indoors, on your own or with your family. The result is 100% natural fertiliser for your plants or vegetable garden.
Solutions for every home
You have a house
without garden
Solutions at your disposal
Vermicompost
Collective compost
Orange bag
with garden
Solutions at your disposal
Bin
Vermicompost
Collective compost
Orange bag