The Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone has fined several people for illegally dumping household waste and bulky items. The perpetrators were identified after officers searched the rubbish bags.
Illegal dumping, also known as fly-tipping, has long been an issue in the Brussels-Capital Region. To tackle the issue, the city's six police zones have been organising targeted checks in the worst-affected areas.
The Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone organised a clean-up campaign targeting illegal dumping in the northern part of the region on Sunday 9 March. The action was carried out in cooperation with the City of Brussels.
Officers discovered various items on Chaussée Romaine, in Cité Modèle in Laeken, on Avenue des Citronniers and Rue Reper-Vreven, all located near the northern border with Flanders.
"In many cases, white rubbish bags were dumped [for household waste which is not destined for other coloured bags], but also seat cushions, a toilet and a cupboard," the police said.
€3,400 in fines
The bags were searched and in some cases police were able to identify the suspected fly-tippers. Municipal administrative fines (GAS fines) worth €3,400 were issued to the perpetrators. A municipality can impose these fines for infringements of its municipal regulations to deter different types of public nuisance.
City of Brussels councillor for public cleanliness Anas Ben Abdelmoumen (PS) celebrated the success of this collaboration between its municipal service and the local police.
"We will continue to focus on these actions because they allow us to identify and fine illegal dumpers even more effectively," he said. "Those who pollute our beautiful city must bear the consequences. Brussels is not a dustbin." Similar extra measures are planned for the near future, while Ben Abdelmoumen also wants to roll out smart cameras to tackle the issue.
The City of Brussels penalises fly-tipping with a fine of €500/m3 but this can go up to €1000/m3.
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Ben Abdelmoumen recently confirmed that the City of Brussels issued 4,800 fines worth more than €500,000 for fly-tipping in 2024. 1,520 of these fines went to people who do not live in the City of Brussels municipality, accounting for almost a third of the fines. In 857 cases, the fly-tippers came from outside the region.
Brussels' waste agency Brussels Cleanliness also offers its mobile 'Recyparks' service for the collection of bulky items, objects and waste – another measure taken across the region to combat illegal dumping of bulky waste.
