Flanders has postponed plans to ban polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, containers and metal cans from public events such as traditional summer festivals from 2025.
The new Flemish Environment Minister, Jo Brouns (CD&V), confirmed this decision on Tuesday in response to a question from parliamentarian Sanne Van Looy (N-VA) in the Flemish parliamentary committee.
To reduce the mountain of waste that develops in summer, the previous Flemish government had tightened restrictions on garbage produced at major public events.
Since June 2023, no disposable material may be used to serve drinks, except for PET bottles and metal cans, provided the organiser can guarantee at least 95% selective sorting of such waste.
This exception should normally have disappeared from 1 January next year, which would have meant banning the use of PET bottles and cans at public events, but according to Minister Brouns, that deadline is unrealistic.
In his view, the events sector and drinks producers have not been able to prepare effectively for the ban.
However, the Minister intends to sit down with the sector to discuss waste prevention and reuse. He also intends to ask the Flemish administration in charge of waste management (OVAM) to study which banning measures could be adopted, in which sectors of activity and within what timeframe.
In her response, Ms Van Looy welcomed the fact that the sector had been given more time to reduce its waste.
"Our efforts to switch to reusable cups have paid off," she said. "Less waste is being produced, there is less cleaning and the grounds are cleaner after events."
"But if there's one thing that characterises summer, it's festivals. It's important to support them and to work together for a more environmentally conscious Flanders," she added.
