With the new cleanliness action plan, the city of Ghent is setting a new course, funded by an annual 4 million euros from the Flemish stray litter subsidy and an additional 1.3 million euros from Ghent's multi-year budget. These funds will be used to clean streets and squares, improve citizen services, offer extra support in neighborhoods with persistent cleanliness issues, and step up the fight against illegal dumping.
Cleanliness is a top priority for the entire city council. A clean city contributes to how safe and welcome people feel and how proud they are of their neighborhood. The vast majority of Ghent residents keep the city clean, but a small minority leaves waste where it doesn't belong, causing much frustration. Therefore, with this action plan, we are simultaneously focusing on better service, awareness campaigns, and enforcement.
To strengthen service delivery, 19 extra sanitation workers will be hired. Ten employees will reinforce IVAGO's regular services, including for cleaning up illegal dumping and emptying waste points. Additionally, eight employees will be deployed in flexible teams that can quickly respond to local problems and peak periods, for example, in parks during the summer months. An extra employee will also be dedicated to cleaning benches and bins.
The city aims to significantly increase the likelihood of catching illegal dumpers. The goal is to search every instance of illegal dumping for clues that could lead to the perpetrator. For this purpose, four additional enforcement officers will be hired at IVAGO. Furthermore, the City is investing in two extra cameras, a specialized employee for analyzing camera footage, and two additional inspectors for the police. The municipal fines (GAS-boetes) for illegal dumping will also be increased.
In and around social housing complexes, ten additional waste stewards will be introduced through a cooperation agreement with Thuispunt Gent. They will guide residents, assist with moving processes, and be present in areas where waste problems frequently occur. Three extra supervisors will also be deployed to detect illegal dumping and record violations.
Each neighborhood is different. Therefore, Ghent is building a team of waste coaches who will collaborate with residents, schools, associations, and local partners. They will work on a neighborhood-specific basis, responding to the unique challenges of each area. Muide-Meulestede-Afrikalaan will become a pilot neighborhood where new measures will be tested, including experimental collection rounds, additional bins, accessible drop-off points, and large-scale clean-up operations.
The cleanliness action plan also includes initiatives such as a revised bin policy tailored to a growing city, cooperation between various field partners, user-friendly drop-off points, and monitoring.
