The City of Antwerp has established Team Hercules, a specialized unit dedicated to combating illegal dumping. This team is being expanded from 20 to 31 employees. This approach aims to ensure that more individuals engaging in illegal dumping can be identified and held responsible for cleanup costs.
Illegal dumping remains a major annoyance for Antwerp residents and negatively impacts the quality of life in neighborhoods. With Team Hercules, the city can focus more on locations prone to illegal dumping, with particular attention to designated 'at-risk' neighborhoods. The team's name refers to the Greek hero who, according to mythology, cleaned the Augean stables.
Mayor Els van Doesburg stated: "There is no place for a 'lazy slob mentality' in Antwerp. With eleven additional enforcement officers, smart cameras, and artificial intelligence, we are giving our brand-new Team Hercules the necessary muscle to combat illegal dumping. Those who turn our streets into a garbage dump can expect a higher chance of being caught and a hefty bill."
Alderman for city cleaning and waste Ken Casier added: "We are very pleased with this additional prevention and enforcement. Team Hercules is now available 24/7 to clean up illegal dumping. This allows us to work more targetedly to identify offenders faster and tackle this persistent problem at its root."
Team Hercules consists of two specialized units: a camera team that analyzes footage to track down offenders, and an investigation team that searches for evidence in discarded waste on-site. This combination of camera surveillance and field investigation enables an effective approach, depending on the location and type of illegal dumping. Innovation and new methodologies, such as monitoring locations with few reports but persistent illegal dumping, are employed to direct investigation teams effectively.
The city has invested significantly in camera infrastructure in recent years and is utilizing AI technology to analyze footage more quickly and efficiently. This increases the likelihood of catching offenders and allows for faster identification. When perpetrators cannot be immediately identified, additional on-site investigation is required to convert violations into administrative fines (GAS-boetes). Footage indicates that illegal dumping does not exclusively occur at night, allowing for planned enforcement actions during times with the highest chance of apprehension.
The reinforced commitment to a cleaner city is yielding results. Offenders face an administrative fine of at least 150 euros, in addition to cleanup costs. In 2025, 306,280 euros in cleanup costs were recovered from illegal dumpers, more than double the 144,189 euros recovered in 2024.
