Belgium’s Idélux boosts recycling with door-to-door pickup
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Idélux Environnement in Belgium collected more packaging materials through its door-to-door program than initially expected, averaging 30 kilograms per person annually.
Five years after launching the program in October 2021, Idélux saw a significant increase in collected plastic, metal, and cardboard packaging compared to when citizens used recycling drop-off centers. This success prompted Idélux to expand its team to include a foreman, three team leaders, twenty-five loaders, and fourteen trucks to manage the increased volume and adapt its logistics.
The increased collection volume also strengthened the national recycling system, particularly through Idélux’s co-ownership stake in the SITEL sorting center in Engis, which processes 40,000 tonnes of packaging annually. A new MOPET plant opened in Neufchâteau aims to create 90 jobs and recycle 40,000 tonnes of plastic packaging each year into new products. However, Idélux noted that 13 percent of collected bags still contain incorrectly sorted items like nested packaging, textiles, and unemptied bottles, which complicate processing.
The presence of hazardous materials like batteries and electronics also poses risks. Idélux and other organizations are now working to reduce overall waste production, supported by new European regulations promoting simpler, recyclable packaging and reusable solutions.
