Orange bin bag for organic waste will be mandatory in Brussels households from May 2023

The orange bin bag for organic waste will become mandatory for all households in the Brussels-Capital Region from May 2023, meaning kitchen waste is no longer allowed in the white bag, the Regional Government decided on Thursday.

As per reports, too much kitchen waste and plastic still disappears into the white bag and then goes to the incinerator, which is why the Regional Government wants to reduce the number of white bin bags with the residual waste-in line with the European waste policy.

As the decision on the different ways of sorting waste and plastic will also have consequences for the weekly waste collection, Brussels Minister for Climate Transition Alain Maron is preparing a reorganisation that will prevent the double collection of the white bag.

From 1 May 2023, it will only be collected once a week. However, how exactly this will work has not yet been decided and will be communicated later this month.

In addition, all plastic packaging waste must also be put in the blue bag from May. While this was already allowed, it will become mandatory from then on.

In the earlier legislature, then-State Secretary Fadila Laanan tried to execute a similar reform, but it was met with fierce protest from mayors and trade unions of Bruxelles Proprete, and was then put on hold.