The amount of collected organic waste in Brussels will increase significantly in 2024, according to the Brussels Regional Waste Agency.
From January to October, the quantity rose by more than 30% compared to the same period in 2023. In response to this growth, Brussels-Propreté will launch a communication campaign on food waste from 2 to 31 December.
The goal is to standardise the practice of sorting valuable waste and continue providing orange bins to Brussels residents.
Since the mandatory sorting of food waste was implemented on 15 May 2023, the amount collected by Brussels-Propreté has steadily increased.
From January to October 2024, the agency collected 21,593 tonnes of organic waste, up from 14,377 tonnes in the same period in 2023, a rise of over 30%.
If the monthly growth remains stable, the figures are expected to exceed 25,000 tonnes by the end of the year, surpassing the 18,000 tonnes collected in 2023 and the 11,000 tonnes in 2022 when sorting was voluntary.
These sorted organic wastes are converted into biogas or compost, avoiding incineration.
Brussels-Propreté estimates that this conversion currently prevents the emission of 4,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to the emissions from 4,000 round-trip flights between Brussels and New York.
However, about 50,000 tonnes of food waste remain in the general waste bags of Brussels households. The communication campaign will run from 2 to 31 December.
