The action week, an initiative by Mooimakers, resulted in 45 operations targeting illegal dumping and litter, comparable to last year. Efforts included field actions, targeted observations, camera surveillance, and searching dumped waste to identify perpetrators. This led to 240 GAS violations for illegal dumping, compared to 266 in 2025. Additionally, 17 GAS violations were issued for littering offenses, and six major illegal dumping cases were forwarded to the public prosecutor's office.
The city of Ghent continues to intensify its fight against illegal dumping. Thanks to the collaboration between the police, community wardens, IVAGO, and city services, offenders can be specifically targeted. Those caught face not only a fine but also the cleanup costs.
Besides illegal dumping, the City also conducted checks on business waste, resulting in 79 observations, a decrease of 24 percent compared to 2025. During the Week of Enforcement, extra attention was given to actively addressing violations of public domain usage rules, such as unauthorized signs and unpermitted encroachments. This led to 3 GAS violations and 4 official reports.
Making the city clean is a shared responsibility. The police, IVAGO, and various city services work together daily. Most Ghent residents keep the city clean, but a small group consciously leaves waste where it doesn't belong. Therefore, enforcement will be further increased in the coming years to enhance the chances of catching offenders.
Anyone witnessing illegal dumping can report it via the Mijn Gent app, the illegal dumping form, or Gentinfo. Reporting not only ensures the waste is cleaned up but also facilitates necessary awareness and enforcement actions. Those who wish to help keep their neighborhood clean can become a Proper Pierke.
