Fines

If you commit an offence, get ready to pay!

Prevention policies set out by Bruxelles-Propreté and municipalities to address public cleanliness are not enough. This is why acts of uncleanliness are subject to large fines. The most common acts are:

  • Taking rubbish bags outside of authorised collection days/times
  • Fly-tipping
  • Throwing small waste items (cigarettes butts, cans, papers, chewing-gum, etc.)
  • Urinating, defecating or spitting in the street
  • Animal waste
  • Non-sorted or non-compliant bags
  • Waste tourism (importation of waste from 2 other regions)
  • Illegal waste transportation to another country
  • Illegal waste collection in the region
  • Tags and graffiti
  • etc.

Procedures and sanctions

In addition to the range of criminal sanctions enforced by each municipality, Bruxelles-Propreté also has a team of sworn officers with powers of investigation similar to those of the Police, and sometimes even larger.

Bruxelles-Propreté transmits all infractions to the Prosecutor. The latter can:

  • prosecute before a Magistrate's court, or
  • refer the case to Bruxelles-Propreté who can impose administrative fines.

DID YOU KNOW ?

  • Our inspectors are always on the move, 7 days a week, 24h a day, to sport acts of uncleanliness
  • Interpellations in the act are on the rise
  • Bruxelles-Propreté organises joint operations with the Police, AFSCA, IRE, customs, etc.
  • Our inspectors issue fines for offences related to waste in both public and private places

Tariffs of fines

Administrative fines can reach €62,500. Their amount is set by the Decree of 25 March 1999 on the investigation, detection, prosecution and punishment of offences relating to the environment.

The most common fines

  • Failure to comply with the sorting obligation usually leads to administrative fine of 75 euros.
  • When, in addition to the absence of sorting, the officers note the presence of glass containers in the bag, the amount of the fine is usually around 100-125 euros.
  • Bags put out outside the times to put out the bags are subject to an administrative fine of 50-75 euro.
  • Throwing cigarette butts is punishable by an administrative fine of 50 euros.


All of these fines may be increased by removal and processing costs, the amount of which varies according to the type and quality of the waste.

These amounts are given as an indication, each administrative fine decision being taken after analysis of all the elements of the case.

Top