Bilzen (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Residents in Bilzen have complained about bad smells from the Bionerga composting plant, leading to daily complaints. A recent study showed only four complaints this year. Despite improvements, city officials want Bionerga to relocate by 2026.
Residents in Bilzen have been complaining about bad smells from the Bionerga composting plant. The local government often receives daily complaints about it. At the end of 2023, a study confirmed that the plant was causing the odors, so the company took action by cleaning clogged pipes that were making the compost too wet. A recent study showed that things have improved, with only four complaints this year compared to many before, making local officials happy.
Will Bilzen’s Bionerga plant relocate by 2026 despite improvements?
The city council still wants Bionerga to find a new place by 2026 when they need to apply for a new environmental permit, even though things have improved. They think there will always be some smell from composting and that it’s impossible to stop complaints. Philip Peters from Bionerga feels surprised and disappointed by this decision because the company has worked hard to fix the problems. He mentioned that when Bionerga started, it was in a quiet area, but now more people live nearby as small businesses have grown in the area.
According to Peters, they need new permits to keep working, but their future depends on Limburg. They plan for the next period, which will decide what types of organic waste will be collected in Limburg. He thinks they still need to find the best ways to process this waste. Peters is worried about people wanting to get rid of their waste but not wanting it processed near them. He stressed the need for a good solution, noting that if one place can’t handle the waste, it has to shift. He said that the province will make the final decision.
