Sorting and recycling your waste
While the 2% of incorrectly sorted waste in paper and cardboard may seem small, it nevertheless represents almost 1,000 tonnes of incorrectly sorted waste per year.
What?
Sorting your paper and cardboard
Where?
Where can you get rid of your paper and cardboard waste?
- In the yellow commercial bag
- In the yellow container.
Paper and cardboard items must be placed loose in the container.
- In our Recypark
- Free up to 3m3 per visit and per day
- €121 incl. VAT above 3 m3
To haul your professional waste to the container park, your company must be registered with Bruxelles Environnement as a waste hauler.
How?
A few rules
- Your paper and cardboard items must be clean and dry.
- Any cardboard item that does not fit into the yellow bag must be folded and firmly tied.
- Newspapers can be piled. They must then be tied.
- Do not throw away advertising leaflets and magazines with their plastic wrapping (throw the wrapping in th blue bag or in the blue container).
- Your bag may not exceed 15 kg.
We also encourage you to download our sorting memo and to fix where it can easily be seen (fridge door ...)..
In 2009, the PMD collected still contained 60% of poorly sorted waste. Today, this figure has been reduced to 27% thanks to our mutual commitment to better sorting. In 2021, the blue bag became the New Blue Bag. From now on, almost all plastic packaging can be placed in the blue bag.
What?
What constitutes PMD ?
Plastic packaging (P)
Lemonade, water, milk, juices,yogurts, bath products, liquid cleaning products, trays and raviers, jars and tubes, bags and small bags, films, flower pots, etc.
Metal packaging (M)
Cans, tins, metallic lids and caps from glass jars and bottles, boxes and containers, aluminium dishes, punnets and trays, food and cosmetics aerosols, deodorants,etc.
Drink cartons (D)
Fruit juices, soup, milk, cream,etc;
Where?
Where can you get rid of your PMD?
- In the blue bag
- In the blue container.
PMD must be placed loose in the container.
- In our Recypark
- Free up to 3m3 per visit and per day
- €121 incl. VAT above 3 m3
To haul your professional waste to the container park, your company must be registered with Bruxelles Environnement as a waste haulier.
How?
A few rules
To deposit
- Industrial films up to 1m².
- Household PMD packaging with a volume 8 liters≤ 8l
- Well emptied, drained or scraped
- Flattened and closed with their cap
- Remove the plastic film from the tray and discard both separately in the bag
Not to deposit
- Industrial films larger than 1m² are prohibited.
- Packaging holding more than 8l
- Packaging with childproof caps
Packaging with at least one of the following pictograms :
- Motor oil and pesticide packaging, silicone tubes
- Expanded polystyrene
- Packaging made of a combination of materials (e.g. plastic film layer + aluminium film layer) which cannot be separated, like some drink, fruit purée or wet pet food pouches etc.
We also encourage you to download our sorting memo and to fix where it can easily be seen (fridge door ...).
Food waste represents about 40% of your white bag. Sorting them allows for green energy recovery and production of compost
What?
What do we call food waste ?
Food leftovers (including meat and fish)
Vegetables and fruit peelings
Coffee grounds
Tea bags (paper only)
Paper towels (used only to absorb food residues)
Handkerchiefs ans paper napkins
Expired food (without packaging)
Where?
Where can you get rid of your food waste?
Concerning the small orange 25 L containers for food waste: you must use orange PRO bags exclusively sold by the Agency. The food waste bags must always be well tied in the orange container. Our collection teams will take away your orange bags and leave the small orange containers on the sidewalk so that you can reuse them the next time you have to put out your container.
For the large 140 L and 240 L containers: you can put your food waste in bulk in the orange containers that were provided to you as part of your commercial contract with the Agency. However, for reasons of hygiene and cleanliness, we recommend that you place your food waste in a garbage bag before throwing it into the orange container. The bags must either be orange bags from Bruxelles-Propreté or clear, colorless bags, otherwise they will be considered non-compliant for organic collection.
How?
A few rules
Refused waste sticker: 150x180
Do not put in your orange bag or container:
- Bones, carcasses, bones
- Eggshells, walnut shells, oyster shells, mussel shells...
- Pits
- Garden waste
- Litter, even biodegradable
- Wood ashes
- Nappies
- Compostable/biodegradable packaging packaging
- Liquid food waste (sauces, oils, leftover soup...)
Other
Alternatives
Alternatives exist to recover your food waste.
We also encourage you to download our sorting memo and to fix where it can easily be seen (fridge door ...)..
Since Monday, June 8, 2020, the Bruxelles-Propreté teams will only collect the regulatory biodegradable green bags.
What?
What constitutes garden waste?
Branches
Dead leaves
Withered flowers
Weeds
Plants
Hedge and shrubs trimmings
Grass cuttings
The following is not considered garden waste: soil, sand, animal waste, stones, gravel, canvas, fences, posts, cement or plastic hedging, slabs, tree stumps and trunks.
Where?
Where can you get rid of your garden waste?
Specific collection by Bruxelles-Propreté (quote)*
- In green bags (available in supermarkets and DIY stores)
- In containers
In our Recypark
Rates : €90.75 incl. VAT per visit and per day
* Contact Bruxelles-Propreté PRO by e-mail pro@arp-gan.be or on 0800/988 77.
The branches must be tied in bundles and placed next to the bag.
(The branches must not exceed 1.50 meters in length and 8 cm in diameter).
How?
A few rules
The following are not considered garden waste:
Soil
Sand
Animal waste
Pebbles
Gravel
Cloth
Mesh
Posts
Cement or plastic edging
Slabs
Stumps
Tree trunks
We also encourage you to download our sorting memo and to fix where it can easily be seen (fridge door ...)..
Find out where to put your Christmas tree after the festive season.
Where?
Where can you get rid of your Christmas tree?
How?
A few rules
- Remove the pot and all the decorations.
- You may leave the wooden stand
- Please note: Your artificial Christmas tree is a household bulky item.
We also encourage you to download our sorting memo and to fix where it can easily be seen (fridge door ...)..
Clear glass bottles, jars and flasks must be distinguished from other types of glass.
What?
Sorting your glass waste
Sticker: 350x180
Your clear glass bottles, jars and phials*
*Clear glass can be colourless. If it's clear, you can see through.
Colourless glass
Coloured glass
Your opaque* glass bottles, jars and phials, and other glass waste items
*Opaque glass can be coloured or colourless. If it's opaque, we can't see through.
Colourless glass
Coloured glass
Where?
Where can you get rid of your glass waste?
Where can you deposit your transparent glasses?
In our Recypark
- Free up to 3m3
- €121 incl. VAT above 3m3
In the green container (paid collection)*
- free up to 3m3
- 121 € incl. VAT over 3m3
*Contact Bruxelles-Propreté PRO by e-mail pro@arp-gan.be or call 0800/988 77
Where to deposit your non-transparent glasses and your broken glasses?
In the fuschia bag only for small waste.
- Examples of small broken glasses: drinking glass, small mirror, bottle, jar, flask, etc. These must be well wrapped to avoid the risk of cuts.
In our Recypark for small or big wast.
- Examples of large pieces of broken glass: large mirror, windowpane, etc.
- Only incandescent light bulbs (traditional) and halogens can be placed in the grey/black container or fuschia commercial bag.
- Energy-saving light bulbs, fluorescent tubes (neon) and LED lamps can be dropped off at the Recypark or collected by Bruxelles-Propreté.
We also encourage you to download our sorting memo and to fix where it can easily be seen (fridge door ...)..
Before getting rid of your household bulky items, first assess their condition! If they're in good condition, pass them on to friends and family, or to social economy associations.
What?
What constitutes bulky professional waste ?
Bulky professional waste is waste that is generated by your business and that cannot be collected in bags because of its nature, weight or size, and which is not attached to the building of your business (cf. construction or renovation waste).
However, there are three types of waste that require specific treatment:
- Chemical products
- Large electrical and electronic appliances (refrigerated counters, large photocopiers, vending machines, coffee machines) are processed by Recupel.
- Inert waste (rubble, bricks, stones, breeze-blocks.....)
Where?
Where can you get rid of your bulky household waste ?
- Special home collection by Bruxelles-Propreté: €57.48/m3 incl. VAT
- In our Recypark (bulky waste items sorted by category) : €121 incl. VAT per visit per day
- Large electrical and electronic appliances: Ask for free removal at Recupel: www.recupel.be
- Chemical and inert waste: Contact Bruxelles-Propreté PRO on 0800/988 77 or via pro@arp-gan.be.
We also encourage you to download our sorting memo and to fix where it can easily be seen (fridge door ...)..
Your electrical or electronic appliances contain harmful substances that can have a negative impact on the environment. There are a number of recycling channels for treating these harmful substances and recycling the recovered material.
What?
Some examples of electrical or electronic devices
Large appliances: washing machine, dishwasher, dryer, exhaust hood, oven, cooker, fridge, freezer, etc..
Small appliances: vacuum cleaner, toaster, coffee machine, hair dryer, waffle maker, mixer, etc..
Multimedia devices: computer, touch pad, computer or television screen, radio, hi-fi, GSM, etc..
Light bulbs and fixtures: compact fluorescent light bulbs ("energy-saving light bulbs"), fluorescent tubes ("energy-saving tubes"), LED lamps and incandescent light bulbs ("traditional light bulbs"), etc..
Lighting: Floor lamp, desk lamp, chandelier, lantern, etc..
Where?
Where can you get rid of your electrical and electronic devices?
If the device is reusable:
- Offer it to those around you
- Gift it to a social economy association (cfr. https://social.brussels/ or www.res-sources.be)
If the device is not reusable:
- Return it to the shop (if you are buying a new device of the same type)
- Bring it to one of our Recypark
- Contact our collection service for bulky items.
We also encourage you to download our sorting memo and to fix where it can easily be seen (fridge door ...)..
Construction and renovation waste represents a growing volume and tonnage.
What?
What constitutes construction or renovation waste?
Any item that is physically affixed to your home is usually considered construction or renovation material. It is however essential to distinguish between 2 types of waste.
Inert waste (like "rubble")
rubble, broken bricks, pebbles, bricks, stones
tiling, slabs, tilessoil
sandconcrete, cement
gypsum boards: scrap, sheets (type Gyproc) and plastering
Other construction and renovation waste
treated and untreated wood
doors, frames and shutters in wood, metal or plastic
gutters and pipes
floor covering
hygiene items
Where?
Where can you get rid of your construction or renovation waste?
- In our Recypark
- Using our special home collection service* (Contact Bruxelles-Propreté Pro by e-mail pro@arp-gan.be or on 0800/988 77.
We also encourage you to download our sorting memo and to fix where it can easily be seen (fridge door ...)..
Despite a much lower collection tonnage than other waste, Bruxelles-Propreté reserves a specific collection method for chemicals, with specially trained staff because of the danger they represent for the environment and for the people who handle them.
What?
What constitutes professional chemical waste?
Chemical waste packaging containing product residues and bearing at least one of the pictograms listed below:
Corrosive
Irritant
Dangerous for the environment
Flammable
Hazardous to health - long term
Toxic
Cleaning and maintenance products
Garden products
Beauty products
Briquets and lighteners
Extinguishers
Oils ad fats for frying
Batteries and others
Medical products
Automotive products
Coating products
Printing products
Light bulbs, compact fluorescent ("energy-saving") lamps, fluorescent tubes (neon) and LED lamps.
More information and collection points at www.recupel.be.
All aerosols, except empty cosmetic and food cans.
Where?
Where can you get rid of your professional chemical waste ?
Please follow the steps below:
- Send your list of professional chemical waste to Bruxelles-Propreté Pro by e-mail pro@arp-gan.be or fax: 02/780.28.38.
- Bruxelles-Propreté Pro will reply with a quote for approval.
- A delivery note details the description and quantities that you have given us.
- We set an appointment to collect your waste.
- We remove your chemical waste in accordance with the safety standard specific to this type of waste.
THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT ACCEPTED AT PROXY CHIMIK AND IN THE RECYPARK:
Asbestos waste ("Eternit")
Gas tanks, bottles and cartridges
Fireworks and other explosives
Laboratory products
Radioactive substances
Roofing materials
Professional chemical waste
To get rid of them, please contact Bruxelles Environnement on 02/775 75 75 or at https://environnement.brussels/.
How?
A few rules
- Bring your household chemical products in their original packaging and make sure they are properly closed (not loose in a plastic bag)
- In the absence of original packaging, clearly write the name of the product on the packaging
- Also bring the empty containers of chemical products
- Separate liquids from solids
- Water filters with resin granules (like Brita) must be returned to the manufacturer or to the shop. Otherwise, place them in the "coatings" category.
- Do not mix materials together
We also encourage you to download our sorting memo and to fix where it can easily be seen (fridge door ...)..
All medication, expired or not.
What?
Which medication?
The box and instructions must be placed in the yellow bag.
Pill bottles
Sprays, bottles
Bottles syrup
Ointment tubes
Pill packs
Where?
Where can you get rid of your medication?
Only at your chemist's.
Other
Healthcare waste
Our commercial team can handle the following products on request:
- Medicines and cosmetics;
- Closed bottles of disinfectants and treatments;
- Chemical laboratory products (via a detailed list), excluding potentially explosive and radioactive products;
- Syringes packaged in specific rigid containers.
We do not cover:
Infectious (clinical waste) or potentially infectious products (probes, tubing, bags, etc.);
Bacteriological waste;
Potentially radioactive waste;
Potentially explosive waste.
For more information:
For more information on the obligations relating to the management of healthcare waste, visit the website of Bruxelles Environnement.
We also encourage you to download our sorting memo and to fix where it can easily be seen (fridge door ...).
Today, there are no recycling channels for all types of waste, although new solutions are appearing regularly.
What?
What constitutes residual waste?
Any waste similar to non-recyclable household waste is professional residual waste. Only place waste that cannot be recycled in your commercial bag or grey/black container. Sorting guarantees the valorisation of waste as raw material. Do not throw any items in good condition.
Where?
Where can you get rid of your residual waste?
- In the fuschia bag, if you have signed a commercial bag contract.
- In the grey/balck container. You can put your residual waste in bulk in the grey / black containers that were provided to you as part of your commercial contract with the Agency. However, for reasons of hygiene and cleanliness, we recommend that you place your residual waste in a garbage bag of your choice before throwing it into the container.
Residual waste items cannot be brought to the Recypark.
How?
A few rules
- Maximum 15 kg bag accepted.
- Sharp waste items (ex: broken glass) must be properly wrapped to prevent that you or our teams get cut..
Your fuchsia bag cannot contain any:
- hazardous waste
- construction/renovation waste
- waste whose volume is too large for the fuchsia bag
We also encourage you to download our sorting memo and to fix where it can easily be seen (fridge door ...)..
