Environment: FAQ

This page has been automatically translated from French into English by a translation software. Automatic translations are not as accurate as translations made by professional human translators. Nevertheless these pages can help you understand information published by the City of Brussels.

   

Citizenship

The problems of neighborhood (noise, waste, greenery). Who in the City can help me to solve my problem?
The first solution is to privilege the relation of a good neighborhood and to try to resolve the problem directly with your neighbour. He is not inevitably aware of the nuisance for which he is responsible. Speak about it with him can. This can already settle quite a lot of problems. If your neighbour refuses any agreement, the dispute can be sent to the peace justice.

I notice or am a victim of a problem of pollution, noise pollution,... What can I do, who can I contact?
Contact can be taken with the Control unit (Plan and authorizations - (02 279 30 64).

And in case of emergency!

If you complain about a pollution arisen recently. If you consider that an immediate intervention is necessary because you are afraid of grave consequences for your health, that of your close relations or for the environment. If you are witness or an author of an incident being able to have consequences on the health the population or on the environment. We invite you to phone to the service 100 which, via the intervention of fire brigades, will take the necessary urgent measures to protect the population and the environment. Bruxelles Environnement (IBGE) will intervene to avoid that the pollution reappears and to assure the definitive restoration of places that are polluted.

Waste

I look for recycling waste in Brussels.
Brussels arranges a system of sorting of waste based on 4 bags with different colors, on a system of separated collection for piles, glass, medicines, bulky waste.
For more information.

Clandestine deposit of waste or garbage cans in my district. Who can I contact?
If the secret waste was deposited on the municipal public road network or on the regional public road network, it will be necessary to contact either the cleansing service of the City, or the regional services.

• For the City of Brussels, Info-Propreté 0800 901 07 (24 hours).
• For the Brussels Region, the Brussels-Cleanliness 0800 981 81.

Garden

What are the distances of plantation to be respected?
Trees with high stalks (trees the trunk of which measures at least 40 cm of circumference, in 1,5 m of the ground and which achieves at least 4m of height) must be necessarily planted at a minimal distance of 2 m.
Shrubs and other trees must be planted at a minimal distance of 50 cms.

Who has to or can prune?
Every person on the property of which the branches of a not adjoining tree advance, can oblige his neighbour to cut these branches. But attention, this person cannot do this himself without warning his neighbour. If a neighbour cuts branches without preliminary agreement of the owner, he is liable to a civil penalty.

May I bring down a tree?
It is forbidden to bring down a tree without permit if the trunk is at least 40 cms of circumference, at 1,50 m of the ground and which reaches at least 4 m of height. An application for permit must be introduced at the City, inquire with the Town Planning Department.
For more information.

Bonuses

How to be able to benefit from bonuses of the City of Brussels?
You will find all the information for the obtaining of the bonuses in the section Bonuses of the website of the City of Brussels or with the unit Eco-Advice by phoning: 02 279 33 10.

I live in the municipality of Forest, I wish to purchase a compost bin and wish to know if I can benefit from the bonus of the City of Brussels.
If the City of Brussels grants bonuses, they are only awarded to the inhabitants of the City (code mail: 1000, 1020, 1120, on 1130). Nevertheless, most of the Brussels municipalities grant environmental bonuses. Inquire with your municipality to know if they offer the bonus that you wish and how to obtain it.