Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Leuven placed its 1st new large trash bin at Vaartkom in September 2025. Alderman Thomas Van Oppens (Green) said the bigger bins will improve efficiency and reduce overflowing waste.
As VRT News reported, Leuven placed the 1st new large trash bin at the Vaartkom this morning, Sep 18, 2025. Alderman for City Cleaning Thomas Van Oppens (Green) was present during the installation. The city had shown the new design last year, but this is the 1st time one has been installed on the street. In the coming years, more than 1,000 green and grey bins will be removed.
“Due to changes in consumption, such as takeaway meals or coffee, the current trash bins have become too small,”
says Van Oppens.
What is Leuven’s plan for replacing street trash bins??
The new bins offer almost 3 times more capacity than the old ones. The previous model could hold only 45 litres of waste and needed to be emptied very often. Alderman Van Oppens said this system was no longer sustainable. The larger bins will reduce the need for frequent collection and make work easier for cleaning services. At several locations, a cigarette dispenser will also be placed next to the bin.
“The new bins are also more attractive,”
says Van Oppens.
“We try to keep the public space not only clean, but also attractive, and we therefore think it’s important to consider the appearance of the hundreds of bins we’ll be installing in Leuven.”
Alderman for City Cleaning Thomas Van Oppens (Green) said the city is working on a trash bin plan to decide whether a full replacement is needed. The plan will also study whether bins can be grouped in some locations, which would reduce the number of times cleaning staff need to empty them. Van Oppens described the coming changes as a major shift in how Leuven manages its waste system.
Officials stated that larger bins come with concerns over misuse. For years, some residents have been using public bins for household garbage. Critics fear that bigger bins may lead to similar or larger issues. Van Oppens acknowledged the concern, but insisted the city cannot ignore the need for larger bins.
He said the previous system with smaller bins was no longer workable because they filled up too quickly. The alderman added that the new design is intended to reduce overflowing bins and improve efficiency, while the city will continue to monitor how residents use them.
The alderman said,
“We must address the problem of improper use through campaigns and awareness-raising. and if necessary, take action against offenders. Cameras will also play a role in this in the future.”
The green and grey trash bins in Leuven have been found on the streets of the city since the 1970s, providing service to residents for almost half a century. While there are still more than 1,000 of these bins in use, their size means that overflowing trash has been a problem for a long time. In 2024, the city debuted a new, larger model to suit today’s needs, though the first bins were only installed in the Vaartkom in September 2025.
