Soil

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.

   

For example, certain chemicals in the ground can infiltrate into subterranean waters and into streams. Furthermore, certain vegetables can absorb the contaminants of the ground, which get into the food chain.

Our daily gestures have an impact on the quality of the ground. Do you know that your cleaning products, if they are knocked down or poured on the ground, can concentrate and pollute your grounds durably? If you garden and do not respect the good dosage of product (pesticides and fertilizer), you can make the soil sterile.

The storage of waste of all kinds (household electrical appliances, tires, bulky waste) in your garden is also a source of pollution.

Advice

To reduce the risk of pollution:

• Garden without chemicals. Extract unwanted plants with the hand. Use house preparations on the basis of plants to fight parasites.
• Compost your organic kitchen and garden waste. It will produce some free fertilizer of very good quality for your plants.
• Leave some organic matter on your garden (dead leaves, branches).
• Let your garden be maintained by 'professionals'. You have lots of insects and spiders which feed on parasites of your plants at your disposal. By letting them do their work, you will see the biodiversity of your garden improving.

Links

• Brussels-environment. All that it is necessary to know about soil pollution in Brussels and how to avoid or to eradicate it: www.ibgebim.be, private individuals - subject grounds.
• The small guide of the Brussels garden. Every knowledge on the rules relative to the gardens of the city as well as the advice for maintenances. Available at simple demand with the Eco-Advice service.
• Natagora, association of nature conservation in Wallonia and Brussels: www.natagora.be.