The municipality is transitioning to a 'bag to bin' system with pay-per-waste-weight to reduce residual waste.
By Els Verhaeghe
••3 min read
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Generic image of a modern waste bin in a Flemish municipality, with typical architecture in the background.
From early 2028, Knokke-Heist will transition from waste bags to bins for both residual waste and organic waste (GFT), introducing a new diftar system where residents pay per kilogram of waste presented.
The Autonomous Municipal Company for Urban Development (AGSO) Knokke-Heist, with the approval of the municipal council, has awarded the contract for household waste collection for the next ten years to Horizon Net 3.0, a partnership between Veolia and Dekeyser. Starting in early 2028, Knokke-Heist will switch from bags to bins for both residual waste and organic waste (GFT). GFT waste will thus be collected separately from then on. The choice for the DifTar system, where payment is per kilogram of waste, is final. During 2027, the municipality will work out the concrete organization in consultation with municipal advisory councils and representatives of key target groups such as administrators, entrepreneurs, and hospitality operators. In 2027, waste collection will remain the same as today.
With this system, the municipality aims to meet the objective of OVAM (the Public Flemish Waste Company) to reduce the annual amount of residual waste in Knokke-Heist per inhabitant by 30%. The obligation to collect GFT waste separately, which has been in effect for local authorities since 2024, also plays a role. Knokke-Heist currently enjoys a temporary exemption for this. Almost all Flemish municipalities now collect their GFT and residual waste separately using bins. Coastal municipalities like Blankenberge and De Panne made the switch this year. Knokke-Heist expects the transition to have a clear positive impact on the total amount of residual waste. For business waste, AGSO Knokke-Heist is investigating what can still be included in the door-to-door collection and is exploring the feasibility of a separate business waste round.
AGSO, in consultation with the advisory councils and the college of aldermen, has decided to maintain night collection. This entails fewer safety risks and contributes to a tidier streetscape. Furthermore, it was agreed to further expand the network of underground waste containers. By supplementing the current 33 locations with several new strategic sites, the municipality aims to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, administrators, and second-home owners.
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"The DifTar system ensures that those who produce less waste and sort better also pay less. The use of waste bins leads to a cleaner municipality and offers a solution for seagull nuisance. This system, combined with an expansion of underground containers, is a robust arrangement that offers comfort to residents and entrepreneurs while meeting Flemish regulations."
The transition from bag to bin will take place in early 2028. In 2027, everything will remain as it is today. This gives Horizon Net the necessary time to order new garbage trucks and equip them for the new DifTar system. The municipality and AGSO will use the coming year to publicize the plans to residents, administrators, second-home owners, and entrepreneurs. Information sessions for residents will be organized in the autumn of 2027.
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"The municipality is not opting for a one-size-fits-all solution, but wants to translate existing needs into supported solutions tailored to Knokke-Heist. We can learn from the many other Flemish municipalities already working with DifTar, but we must not forget that this cannot be copied one-to-one to Knokke-Heist. In 2027, the municipality will engage in dialogue with the involved parties to further develop the practical organization. We will work with residents, second-home owners, administrators, retailers, and hospitality businesses to determine which solutions work best in their situation, ensuring everyone is informed in a timely and clear manner."
