'Joining forces': Brussels Region and communes work together to improve cleanliness

'Joining forces': Brussels Region and communes work together to improve cleanliness
Credit: Belga

The Brussels Regional Government has approved 25 projects selected by a jury of experts to improve urban cleanliness across the Capital Region and will allocate a total of €2,380,000 to carry out these municipal projects.

As the Brussels-Capital Region and the municipalities are jointly responsible for cleanliness in Brussels, efforts at all policy levels are being strengthened to streamline all the actions being taken, but also to focus on problems identified by the municipalities.

"The Brussels municipalities have limited resources to tackle the cleanliness problems that are a priority for Brussels residents," said Brussels Minister for Public Cleanliness Alain Maron. "The close connection between regional and local dynamics is one of our priorities. Together, we manage cleanliness in our Region."

This call for projects, Maron said, expresses the Capital Region's priority to provide local administrations with methodological and financial support "for innovation and the realisation of concrete actions" in line with regional policies and implemented at the local level.

'Joining forces for public cleanliness'

The projects address the three main pillars of urban cleanliness: prevention, rehabilitation and punishment. Their objectives include acquiring surveillance cameras to step up the fight against illegal dumping, developing awareness campaigns on specific problems in public spaces, deploying "cleanliness mediators" in problem neighbourhoods, tightening controls on trade agreements, beautifying tree paving, paying attention to the issue of cigarette butts, and developing awareness activities in schools.

The panel of experts particularly highlighted the joint project of the communes of Forest, Ixelles and Saint-Gilles. "With the Joint Cleanliness Commitment project, these neighbouring communes want to join forces for public cleanliness in the Brussels-Capital Region."

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Special emphasis will be placed on raising awareness, with five campaigns in 2023 and 2024 (dog dirt, urinating in public, cigarette butts, litter and illegal dumping). "A project call for citizens will also be launched. This is a great example of cooperation that is fully in line with the clean.brussels urban cleanliness plan."

Other projects also received congratulations from the jury for their high quality, particularly the municipality of Etterbeek with its project for neater commercial districts. The City of Brussels with its project to beautify and secure tree pits was lauded by the jury.


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