Types of waste

The overview provided below will help you sort your household waste:

Paper and cardboard

Newspapers, magazines, boxes, etc. can only be recycled if they are unsoiled. They must be clean when you throw them out.
Attention: Do not put tissues, kitchen towels, stickers, drinks containers, carbon paper and wallpaper, dirty or greasy paper and cellophane in with the new paper. These go in the bag for unsorted waste.

Plastics, metals and drinks containers

Plastic containers (bottles), metals and drinks containers can be recycled into new packaging, textiles, etc.
Attention: Do not put margarine containers, plastic containers (e.g. yoghurt pots), packaging of hazardous or toxic substances, plastic bags, aluminium foil and cling film in with the plastics, metals and drinks containers. These go in the brown or light brown bag for unsorted waste. 

Pink bag

New as of 2017: soft plastics and small hard plastic items go in the pink bag. For example: yoghurt and margarine containers, plastic packaging, foil, etc. Do not dispose of these with the rest of the household waste (brown or light brown bag). Sorting plastics reduces CO2 emissions by 12%. You can buy pink bags at your local shops or supermarket. The pink bags are collected from your home. You can also take the pink bag to the recycling centre free of charge.
Attention: The pink bag is not compulsory. Do not put dirty containers in this bag. You must rinse or wash these first.

Food and garden waste

Vegetables, fruit and garden waste, pruning waste, grass clippings and leaves can be used for compost. Composting is the decomposition of plant matter and foodstuffs using oxygen. This waste may be collected from your home. You can also do your own composting in your garden or bring it to to the recycling centre.
Attention: Structural timber, charcoal and mussel shells are not suitable for composting.

Residual waste

Residual waste is household waste that cannot be re-used, is not recyclable and does not fit any other waste sorting category. Residual waste that is too large to fit in the bag for household waste is considered bulky waste.

Household hazardous waste (kga in Dutch) or household chemical waste (kca in Dutch)

Hypodermic needles, fluorescent lamps, detergents, cosmetics, paint and varnish, used oil, pesticides, etc. are hazardous to your health and the natural environment. These must be disposed of separately. Put regular batteries in the BEBAT collection containers found in supermarkets, petrol stations, etc. Take car batteries to the recycling centre or your garage.
Attention: Take old medicines to the pharmacy. The same applies to medication past its expiry date.

Glass

Empty bottles and jars without caps or lids. You must separate uncoloured and coloured glass for disposal. Choose the correct bottle bank. The glass can be used to make new containers. You will find bottle banks at supermarkets or at the recycling centre.
Attention: Do not take ceramics, frosted glass, Pyrex and other fire resistant glass, mirrors, windowpanes and light bulbs to the bottle bank; these are considered bulky waste. You must take bulky waste to the recycling centre. 

Used electronic and electrical devices

You can take refrigerators, televisions, computers, washing machines, etc. to the recycling centre free of charge.In Flanders, you can take appliances that are still functional to a thrift shop.When you buy a new appliance similar to your old one, the dealer must take in the old appliance.

Construction and demolition waste

Take construction waste to the recycling centre.This is waste made up of the materials of which your home is constructed such as stones, tiles, etc. 
Attention:Be careful when removing waste which contains asbestos.Asbestos cement must be disposed of separately at the recycling centre.It is important that the container for construction and demolition waste does not become contaminated with asbestos cement.Asbestos is hazardous to people’s health.

Re-usable textiles

Clothing, shoes, bed linens, etc. are collected from your home or you can take them to the recycling centre, textiles containers or a thrift shop.thrift shops.