Brussels buildings up to 90 percent contain asbestos, region revises plan
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The Brussels Capital Region government will update its approach to managing asbestos in buildings after data from 2017 indicated that 80 to 90 percent of structures contain the hazardous material.
State Secretary Ans Persoons explained to the Brussels Parliament’s Environment Committee that the region tracks asbestos removal through environmental permits and previously determined that managing asbestos in place is preferable to complete removal when the material is in good condition.
Brussels differs from Flanders, a region of Belgium, which prioritizes asbestos removal with a goal of being asbestos-safe by 2040. Persoons stated that complete removal isn’t feasible in Brussels because a larger percentage of its asbestos is “friable,” meaning the fibers easily become airborne. Removing friable asbestos would cost approximately 40 percent more in Brussels than in Flanders, despite a smaller total amount of the material.
To improve oversight, the Brussels government plans to launch a digital platform in 2027 to register, store, and manage asbestos inventories. This platform will collect updated data on the amount and type of asbestos present in buildings. Leefmilieu Brussel (Brussels Environment) issued 2,854 permits for asbestos removal between 2020 and 2025, but current overall percentages of asbestos in the region are unavailable. The government expects to present a revised asbestos policy proposal at the start of 2027.
