Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Ghent waste inter-municipal IVAGO has suspended waste collection services throughout Ghent on this day due to ongoing snow conditions. Besides commercial waste, the waste collection team fails to manage it while recycling parks remain shut for public access.
The heavy snowfall disrupted waste collection operated by IVAGO, forcing the company to suspend waste cleaning and shut down recycling facilities throughout Ghent. All waste collection services stopped both for residential areas and businesses before residents received instructions to return their trash inside by evening.
Hazardous roads caused by heavy snowfall served as the primary reason for the interruption of waste collection services in Ghent. The waste management company IVAGO declared its commitment to recovering as much waste as possible the day after the collections were missed. The waste collection service announced residents should keep their garbage within and present it again when the next pickup arrives.
What are the waste management challenges in Ghent and Belgium?
The waste management system of Ghent operates through a robust waste separation regime which sorts waste into different categories such as large regular waste, PMD (plastic bottles and metal packages and drink cartons in light blue bags), GFT (vegetables and fruits with garden waste in green containers), glass (transparent bottles and flasks in boxes) and paper/cardboard (boxed together or placed in containers). IVAGO handles waste retrieval and recycles facilities for extensive and dangerous waste materials.
Leuven enhanced its waste management by implementing additional trash collection days since January 1, 2025, to decrease sorting mistakes. The practice of waste separation enables waste recovery rates to increase from 40% to 70%. Ghent proposed using pine needles in recipes to lower waste generation. Multiple different approaches can address this issue effectively. Missed customers will receive notes for double waste placement during their upcoming regular service.
