Circular economy
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We recycle more — and more locally

 

With an average of 26.1 kg of PMD collected per resident, Belgians remain top sorters in 2025. Recycling is also increasingly happening locally — more than half of the collected plastics are recycled in Belgium. These are two key conclusions from the 2025 Activity Report published today.

Belgium has been among the European top performers in recycling for years, and that is largely thanks to the citizen. Millions of Belgians sort their PMD, paper-cardboard and glass every day, often almost automatically. We must maintain and further strengthen these good habits.
Francis Huysman, CEO Fost Plus

15 blue bags per inhabitant

The circular economy starts at home. Packaging can only be recycled if it is sorted. And Belgians continue to excel at this: last year, an average of 26.1 kg of PMD was collected per person, equivalent to around 15 blue bags per person per year. Belgians also sorted about 23.7 kg of paper-cardboard packaging per person and 27.7 kg of glass, both a slight decrease compared to the previous year. Together, this amounts to no less than 77.4 kg of household packaging per resident.

Ophaling

On track for European 2030 targets

What we put in the PMD bag is also given a second life, as new packaging or products. Here too, we are performing well. Last year, no less than 74% of all plastic household packaging placed on the Belgian market by our members was recycled — one of the highest figures in Europe for years. This puts us perfectly on track to meet the targets set by the new European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.

Thanks to the recycling of single-use packaging, our country saved around 670,000 tonnes of CO₂ last year. That is equivalent to the emissions of 40,000 households, or the number of households in cities such as Mechelen, Leuven or Aalst.
Francis Huysman, CEO Fost Plus

Investments in local recycling pay off

Recycling is also increasingly taking place close to home through local processing, making the process more sustainable. Three quarters of all collected packaging is recycled in Belgium. For plastics, this figure is 51%, again an increase. That is certainly not a given. While the growth of recycled plastic on the European market nearly stalled in recent years, Belgian recycling capacity continued to grow. And that is not only good for the environment, but also for the local economy.

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