In 2025, Tervuren will be switching to a new waste collection system, with containers fitted with chips to weigh residual waste.
This change could cost the 23,301 residents of Tervuren an extra €1 million, but the municipality has not yet communicated this clearly.
Residents are likely to discover these costs by surprise, despite the environmental benefits such as the reduction in incineration.
At the council meeting, Serge Liesenborghs, from Tervuren Unie, denounced the lack of transparency and asked some crucial questions: ‘when will the system be set up, who will pay for it, and how will the containers be protected against abuse?
Geoffroy de Visscher, from Tervuren Unie, also wondered about the impact of this change on illegal dumping and waste in the municipality. He called for and obtained the organisation of a specific commission on the subject, which is still to be planned.
The DIFTAR system, which has already been adopted by some neighbouring municipalities, imposes a charge per kilo of waste collected, set by Interrand after the October elections. Despite the environmental benefits, Interrand’s failure to consult the local council has prompted strong criticism.