Recycling rates for almost all types of materials improved compared to the previous year, reported Fost Plus, who further noted an increase in sorting errors in collected blue bags.
According to the organisation responsible for sorting blue bags in Belgium, 14% of waste in the PMC bags does not belong there. “We are experiencing a downturn,” lamented Valérie Bruyninckx, spokesperson for the organisation.
Most errors involve batteries, electronic devices, and toys mistakenly placed in blue bags. Fost Plus observes notably less rigorous sorting in larger cities. This increase in errors complicates recycling and raises costs.
In 2024, each Belgian sorted an average of 79.1 kg of packaging.
Fost Plus operates six sorting centres in Belgium, including PreZero Recycling Belgium in Evergem.
This centre has processed approximately 83,000 tonnes of PMC waste per year from Brussels and Flanders since 2021.
Advanced technology, such as air, eddy current, and ballistic separators, is used at these facilities.
