Belgians are among Europe’s top performers when it comes to sorting. However, sorting in the bathroom remains a weak point. According to a study conducted by Dedicated on behalf of Fost Plus, one in three bathroom products is incorrectly sorted.
This highlights a clear challenge: increasing the collection of recyclable packaging while improving the quality of materials entering the recycling chain.
Bathrooms present specific challenges. Packaging from products such as shampoo, toothpaste or deodorant is often small, made of different materials and sometimes difficult to distinguish from everyday items. In addition, many products consist of multiple components, such as caps, pumps or lids.
As a result, uncertainty arises more quickly at the moment of disposal. When in doubt, many people still opt for residual waste, even though some of these packaging items could be correctly sorted in the PMD bag.
Collecting more and better materials from the bathroom
This may seem minor, but it is not. Taken together, packaging used in the bathroom represents a significant volume of materials.
When disposed of as residual waste, these materials are lost for recycling. Conversely, when non-packaging items end up in the PMD bag, they disrupt sorting processes and reduce the quality of collected materials.
The challenge is therefore twofold: collect more recyclable packaging and improve sorting quality. This is key to ensuring efficient recycling.
Common sorting mistakes in the bathroom
The study highlights several recurring mistakes.
Plastic items that are not packaging, such as used electric toothbrush heads, are still too often disposed of in the PMD bag.
Another frequent mistake is sorting packaging that still contains product residues, such as a partially filled tube of hair gel or one containing dried product.
These errors have a direct impact on sorting quality and, consequently, on recycling efficiency.
People are willing to improve their sorting habits
The study also reveals a positive trend: many people are willing to improve their sorting habits.
This shows there is real potential for progress, provided that guidelines remain simple, clear and accessible.
This is precisely the role of Fost Plus: making sorting easier, clearer and more effective, including in situations where the rules are less intuitive.
By providing clear guidance and practical reference points, Fost Plus helps people make the right decisions and contributes to improving both the quantity and quality of collected packaging.
Want to know where to dispose of your bathroom product packaging?
👉 Discover practical guidance on sorting in the bathroom on Bettersorting.be
Some key figures
- 1 in 3 products in the bathroom is sorted incorrectly
- Belgians make an average of 6.75 mistakes out of 20 products
- 4 out of 10 Belgians do not always know where empty packaging belongs
- When in doubt, 42% choose residual waste
- 65% incorrectly sort packaging with product residues in the PMD (recyclable packaging) bin
- 44% incorrectly sort the brush head of an electric toothbrush in the PMD bin
- 79% have only one rubbish bin in the bathroom
- 62% are considering placing an extra rubbish bin
- 73% are open to better sorting habits
About the study
The study was conducted online by Dedicated on behalf of Fost Plus, between 7 and 22 January 2026, among 2,612 Belgians aged 18 and over. The results are representative of the Belgian population based on age, gender, region and level of education.