Whether you’re a hairdresser, a handyman, run an online store from home, or have a side business: your waste is considered commercial waste. Different rules apply to it than to household waste. In Antwerp, those rules are also changing: starting January 1, 2027, you’ll only be able to have the city pick up your general commercial waste in a rental container equipped with a chip.
In this article, you'll learn what the rules are, where you can and cannot go, and what to do if you need to get rid of a large amount all at once.
Short answer: If you have a business registration number, the waste generated by your business is considered commercial waste—even if it’s a side business. You are not allowed to take this waste to the City of Antwerp’s recycling centers. You can have your commercial residual waste picked up by the city in a rental container equipped with a chip, or by a private waste collector. Do you need to dispose of a large amount all at once? Then have it hauled away by a registered waste hauler, who will provide a certificate of disposal.
1. When is waste considered commercial waste?
As soon as you have a business number and are independently supplying goods or offering services, the rules apply—regardless of whether this is your primary or secondary occupation, or whether you’re operating for profit or not. The rules therefore also apply to a nonprofit organization, a sole proprietorship, or a home-based online store.
Are you unsure whether the new regulation applies to you? If so, use the City Decision Tree.
2. Why You Are Not Allowed to Visit the Recycling Center
The City of Antwerp’s recycling centers are intended solely for Antwerp residents. Businesses and self-employed individuals are not permitted to bring their waste there, not even in small quantities.
In some municipalities around Antwerp, it is possible—for a fee. At IVAREM For example, at recycling centers in Duffel, Lier, Mechelen-Noord, Putte, and Puurs, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and self-employed individuals can bring sorted commercial waste with a €15 access pass. They receive 28 free visits per year and pay per kilogram—for example, €0.75 per kilogram of bulky waste. Check with your local waste management association for information specific to your municipality.
3. General Waste: The New Rules in Antwerp
The city of Antwerp is switching to rental containers equipped with a chip that weighs your residual waste. For businesses:
- Since July 2026: Commercial waste may now only be disposed of in yellow bags or in a rental container equipped with a city-issued chip. Private containers are no longer permitted.
- Effective January 1, 2027: The yellow bags will be phased out. Commercial waste can then only be disposed of in a rental container equipped with a chip if you have it picked up by the city. White bags will remain prohibited for businesses.
- PMD: in a city-rented container or in blue bags.
- Paper and cardboard: in a city-rented container, either tied down or in a closed box.
- Organic waste: For now, nothing will change. In 2027, organic waste will also be included in the new system.
How much does it cost? You pay per kilogram of residual waste and a fixed fee per pickup. In 2026, the city will cover the container rental fee. Starting in 2027, you’ll pay a small monthly rental fee of approximately €0.40 to €2 per container, depending on the size. You pay using a prepaid balance. Different rates apply to businesses that generate less than or more than 585 kilograms of residual waste per year.
Would you prefer a private pickup service? That's always an option. For businesses located in an industrial park or in the port area, that's the only option. If your business is located in a recycling lane zone, you'll continue to use the recycling lanes.
Register your choice online at antwerpen.be/huurcontainers.
4. Sorting is required
As a business, you must sort your waste in accordance with the Flemish waste regulations (Vlarema). What remains after sorting is commercial residual waste. A few more rules from OVAM:
- Do you work with a private waste collector? Then you sign a contract.
- Transparent bags: If you use bags in your general waste bin, they must be transparent so that the collection crew can check that there is no recyclable waste inside.
- Pay per kilo: Since January 2026, the waste collection company has been charging for commercial waste based on actual weight. This means that sorting waste more effectively is more cost-effective.
Be sure to keep your invoices and proof of disposal as well. As a business, you must be able to show where your waste went.
5. A large amount of waste all at once: remodeling, storage, or closure
Regular pickup is intended for your everyday trash. Do you need to get rid of a large amount all at once? Think of a storage room full of old inventory, the leftovers from a renovation, or a business that’s closing down. In that case, you have three options:
- Drop it off yourself: to a certified processor, or to a recycling center that accepts business waste. This is therefore not possible in the city of Antwerp.
- A container: It's convenient for large volumes, but you often need a permit to place it on a public road, and you must sort the waste before loading it. With our container service We'll take your order and fill the container for you.
- A cleanup company that is registered as a waste hauler. They will pick up everything, sort it, and dispose of it, and provide you with a certificate of disposal for your records or for your landlord.
JunkBrothers is registered with OVAM as a waste hauler. We offices, stores, warehouses and others commercial buildings empty. A small office space starts at €350, and a small warehouse or storage unit starts at €600 (approximate prices, excluding VAT). You’ll always receive a fixed price upfront.
Before and after: an industrial building that we cleared out and hauled away, sorting the items as we went.
6. Illegal dumping also costs businesses a lot
Commercial waste placed in a white bag, next to a glass recycling bin, or in a public trash can is considered illegal dumping. In Antwerp, you risk a GAS fine of up to €500, plus the cost of cleanup. You can read more about this in Putting bulky trash on the sidewalk: harmless or a costly GAS fine?
Frequently Asked Questions
As a self-employed person with a side job, am I allowed to go to the recycling center in Antwerp?
No. You are not allowed to take waste from your business to municipal recycling centers, even if it is a side job.
Can I put my commercial waste in with my household trash?
No. White bags are prohibited for businesses. You may use yellow bags until the end of 2026. Starting in 2027, commercial waste can only be disposed of through the city in a rental container equipped with a chip.
My business is located in a recycling center zone. What should I do?
You will continue to use the recycling stations. The requirement to rent a container does not apply to you.
How much does it cost to rent a city-owned container?
You pay per kilogram of residual waste and a fixed fee per pickup. Starting in 2027, a monthly rental fee of approximately €0.40 to €2 per container will be added. You can find the exact rates at antwerpen.be/huurcontainers.
I'm closing my business. Who will pick up the furniture and inventory?
A cleanup company registered as a waste hauler. We clear out the property, sort items for reuse, and provide you with a certificate of disposal.
Have a large one-time load of commercial waste? JunkBrothers will pick it up
- Registered waste transporter, with proof of disposal
- Fixed price upfront, no hourly rate
- Urgent orders can be processed within 48 hours
- Reusable items are sent for reuse; the rest goes to certified processors
- Photos via WhatsApp: a quote usually within 2 hours (within 24 hours if submitted via the form)
Prefer to call? Give us a call at +32 469 63 55 62.
