City of Antwerp launches campaign to tackle litter and fly-tipping

The City of Antwerp is stepping up its efforts to keep streets and squares clean with large-scale actions, daily enforcement, and rapid follow-up on reports. The new campaign, ‘Throw your waste in the bin. It’s not that hard.‘, calls on residents and visitors to play their part in maintaining a clean and liveable city.

A growing challenge

Fly-tipping and litter remain significant issues in Antwerp. Each year, the city clears approximately 20 kilograms of illegally dumped waste per resident and over 2,342 tonnes of litter. The campaign aims to encourage everyone—residents, workers, and visitors—to dispose of their waste correctly, reinforcing the city’s commitment to cleanliness.

From 4 May, the campaign will be visible across the city’s streets and online. Inspired by the legend of Brabo, who is said to have given Antwerp its name, the initiative builds on the ‘Allemaal Antwerpenaar‘ (All Antwerpians) campaign. This underscores that anyone who uses the city shares the responsibility of keeping it clean.

Ken Casier (N-VA), alderman for Urban Cleaning and Waste, said: “Antwerp is a city to be proud of, and we show that in the little things. A true, proud Antwerpian throws their waste neatly into the bin. It’s not that hard, and together, we keep our city clean and liveable.”

Large-scale actions and enforcement

In 2025, the city carried out 34 large-scale fly-tipping operations, resulting in 400 fines for illegal dumping and improper waste disposal. These operations target problem areas, combining surveillance, enforcement, and close collaboration between city services and the police.

Daily enforcement, including camera operations and the deployment of neighbourhood teams from urban supervision, remains a key part of the fight against waste issues. In 2025 alone, more than 12,000 fines were issued for fly-tipping and incorrectly presented waste.

Mayor Els van Doesburg (N-VA) added: “Fly-tipping is one of the biggest frustrations for Antwerpians. That’s why our urban supervisors and local police are focusing heavily on camera operations and catching offenders in the act. Anyone who pollutes our city must face the consequences. We owe that to everyone who works hard every day to keep Antwerp clean.”

Rapid response through daily effort

Residents and city employees report fly-tipping and litter daily. These reports are crucial for swift clean-up:

• 5,941 reports of litter.
• 86,775 reports of fly-tipping.

In 2025, 88% of all reports were cleared within 24 hours, and 96% within 48 hours. This rapid response is made possible by the daily efforts of over 900 city workers. Additionally, more than 5,000 street volunteers help clean up litter, report fly-tipping, and keep their neighbourhoods pleasant and tidy.