Waste

Waste is collected according to the type of waste. This encourages recycling or makes waste disposal more efficient. Here you will find the essential info to handle your waste responsibly.

Household waste collection is organised by the Bruxelles-Propreté regional agency. Here's what you need to know:

Frequency of collections

White bags: twice a week (once in Neder-Over-Heembeek and Haren)
Yellow, blue, green and orange bags: once a week

Attention:

Do not put the bags at the foot of a tree or a public rubbish bin. Place them against your facade at the permitted times.

When will the bags be collected?

External siteCalendar indicating when to put out your bags
External siteRecycle! application (with calendar of collection days)

What and how?

External siteRules for sorting waste

Orange bags (food waste)

Protect them from animals by using an orange bin, available free of charge:

at the External sitecontainer parks (Recypark) of 'Bruxelles-Propreté'
at the Quai de la Voirie 1 - 1000 Brussels (from Monday to Friday from 9 am till noon and from 2 pm to 4 pm)
Quai de la Voirie 1 - Accessibility (2.78 MB)

A problem with collection?

If your bags have not been collected, contact Bruxelles-Propreté: 0800 981 81

Other waste?

Do you have a question about specific waste such as glass, oil, batteries, light bulbs, small electrical appliances and others? See the following section on specific waste.

Certain types of waste are not allowed in regular rubbish bags. Here's where to dispose of them:

Glass (jars, bottles,...)

Glass is fully recyclable. It can be used to make new packaging without loss of quality.

List of glass containers (bottle banks)

Map of glass containers (bottle banks)

Consult or retrieve this data via open data

Frying oils and fats

External siteOlioBox collection points

Frying oil and fats can be converted into biodiesel or soap. They should never be poured down the sink or drain as they clog pipes.

Batteries

External siteBebat collection points

Batteries contain heavy metals and pollutants, but they can be recycled to recover their components.

Light bulbs and electrical appliances

External siteRecupel collection points

Electronic components and certain rare metals can be reused to make new appliances.

Clothing and textiles

External siteTextile containers on public roads or External siteRecyparks

Textiles in good condition can be redistributed. Others can be converted into insulation material.

Medicines

Return them to your pharmacy (without the boxes or leaflets, which go in the yellow bag).

Some expired or unused medicines can be dangerous to health or the environment if disposed of in the wrong way. Do not flush them down the toilet or sink.

Household chemical waste

Take it to your local External siteProxy Chimik or to the External siteRecyparks.

These products (paints, solvents, pesticides,...) are toxic and require specialised treatment.

Cork

External siteRecycork collection points

Cork can be recycled into insulation panels or new corks.

Mattresses

External siteRecyparks or bulky waste collection

Used mattresses are dismantled to recover recyclable materials such as foam, metal springs and textiles. These can be used to make new products.

Natural Christmas trees

Put them outside on the green waste collection day (without decorations or pots) or take them to Recyparks.

Christmas trees are shredded and used as compost or mulch for green spaces.

Still in doubt?

Watch the External siteSorting Guide (Bruxelles-Propreté)

Donate or repair

Before throwing things away, consider donating your still usable items to recycling centres or donation platforms. The Res-Sources website lists External sitewhere you can donate products/materials such as IT equipment, small and large household appliances, bicycles, textiles, books, toys and decorative items.

You can also join a External siteRepair Café to learn how to repair small electrical appliances yourself, or use Petits Riens to External siterepair large electrical appliances, or seek advice from a professional.

Collection by appointment

Collection by appointment by the Region: the Bruxelles-Propreté regional agency collects your bulky waste from your home by appointment. Home collection is free for up to 3 m³ per household, once a year. More info:

0800 981 81
External siteBruxelles-Propreté - bulky waste

Free collection by appointment by the City of Brussels (maximum 2 m³ per household per year):

Bulky waste collection at home

Before making an appointment for collection, check whether your items are still usable at a 'Ressourcerie' or Repair Café!

Half-yearly collection per neighbourhood

The City of Brussels organises 2 free collections of bulky waste per year (in spring and in autumn) via containers placed in various districts of the commune.

Bulky waste collection April 2026

Container parks

Several container parks (External siteRecyparks) are accessible throughout the year in the Brussels-Capital Region.

Cyclup recovers wood, textiles and other items:

Furniture, decoration and crockery
Table linen, bed linen and curtains
Clothing and fashion accessories
Children's items
Sewing and craft supplies (fabrics, buttons, zips, ribbons, thimbles, elastic bands,...)
Sports equipment

Please note: textiles may be damaged but must be clean.

All proposals are also welcome at:

External siteCyclup is a socio-professional involvement project of the non-profit organization Job Office with the support of the Public Welfare Centre (CPAS) of the City of Brussels. It offers people with CPAS support the opportunity to acquire professional skills in a variety of professional sectors: sorting, woodworking, sales and textile. Its main ambition is to promote the circular economy.

Construction waste — *© Bruxelles-Propreté*

Construction and demolition waste by individuals, merchants, craftsmen and SMEs has to go to the regional container parks.

More info:

External siteBruxelles-Propreté - container parks (Recypark)
0800 981 81

External sitePrivate companies collect construction waste as well.

Separate waste collection

Traders are required to sign a contract for the disposal of their commercial waste at the External siteBruxelles-Propreté Agency or a External siteprivate company. More info on External siteRecycle BXL Pro - Obligations.

Used oil

Traders who have to use oil during their work are required to sign a contract for the removal of the used oil with a External sitespecialised firm.

Cigarette butts

Article 18 of the Police Regulations of the City of Brussels requires non-residential buildings (offices, shopping centres, catering establishments,...) to have sufficient ashtrays on the ground floor.

Illegal dumping on the territory of the City of Brussels (1000, 1020, 1120 and 1130) can be reported at the Cleaning Service: