Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Brussels placed 150 concrete blocks on Vilvoordelaan to stop illegal dumping by vans and trucks. Alderman Ben Abdelmoumen and Net Brussel coordinated, reducing waste and improving safety since August 2025.
As VRT News reported, Brussels authorities have taken strong action to stop illegal dumping along Vilvoordelaan. For months, vans and trucks have used the busy road to leave large amounts of waste. To solve the problem, the city placed 150 concrete blocks along Vilvoordelaan to stop vehicles from dumping trash. Officials mentioned that normally the road is the responsibility of the Brussels Region, but the city acted early because the situation had become critical.
“We definitely received signals that we couldn’t wait any longer,”
Says the spokesperson for Alderman Ben Abdelmoumen, who presented the concrete blocks idea to the board of aldermen.
“The road is partly on our territory, and that also affects our residents.”
What can 150 concrete blocks on Vilvoordelaan do against illegal dumping?
The city of Brussels has worked with Net Brussel, the region’s official waste collector and processor, to manage illegal dumping on Vilvoordelaan. Net Brussel will provide new concrete blocks to replace the temporary barriers installed by the city. Once the regional blocks are in place, the city will remove its concrete blocks and use them on other streets facing similar dumping problems.
Andreas De Kerpel, spokesperson for the city’s alderman, said residents are already seeing positive results. Since the concrete blocks were installed at the start of August 2025, reports of illegal dumping have dropped significantly. Residents have expressed satisfaction that the streets are cleaner and safer. The barriers have reduced the piles of waste that once caused hazards and eyesores.
Andreas De Kerpel, spokesperson for the city’s alderman, said the waste built up in “mountains” every day. Parked trucks blocked parts of the road, making it easier for dumpers to act unnoticed. Most of the offenders were companies trying to avoid paying container park fees. The constant dumping caused serious safety and environmental problems and made the area hazardous for residents and passersby.
Brussels has tackled illegal dumping with similar projects in the past. In Anderlecht and Schaerbeek in 2021, the city installed concrete blocks and metal barriers on streets and vacant lots that were often used for fly-tipping.
In Molenbeek in early 2022, authorities combined barriers with CCTV cameras and fines, which led to a noticeable drop in waste dumping. Other cities, including Liège and Ghent in 2020 and 2021, also placed concrete blocks and bollards along busy roads and industrial zones to stop companies and individuals from leaving construction debris and household waste illegally.
