Why not generalize the use of voluntary drop-off points, wheeled containers, or underground containers?

This type of wheeled system takes up a significant portion of public space and presents several risks: obstacles for pedestrians and people with reduced mobility (PRM), parking issues, and increased risk of accidents in case of bad weather and/or vandalism. Our experience shows that these containers are easily moved, overturned, or set on fire. For these reasons, we believe they are not an optimal solution for improving waste collection.
Voluntary drop-off points and underground containers may seem convenient, but their implementation raises several challenges:

• Cost: While collection is often cheaper, installation is much more expensive.
• Space: Suitable locations must be found, which can impact parking and neighborhood life. Moreover, Brussels’ underground infrastructure is complex (numerous pipelines), limiting the installation of underground containers.
• Illegal dumping: These installations often lead to an increase in illegal waste deposits around the containers.
  Sorting quality: It may be lower compared to other systems.

Bruxelles-Propreté has already conducted an initial study and is currently finalizing a detailed cost analysis.
We are working on a neighborhood-based approach, as a one-size-fits-all solution for the entire Region is not realistic. Each neighborhood has its own specificities—for example, an area with houses and gardens has different needs than a street lined with apartment buildings.
Note: 24% of Brussels households already use wheeled sorting containers, mainly in large apartment buildings. Underground containers have also been tested to assess their effectiveness in terms of collection, sorting, and cleanliness.