Since 2020, the municipality of Rixensart has equipped all the inhabitants of the municipality with smart bins in order to reduce the production of waste per resident. Each household therefore received two bins, one for household waste and the other for organic waste.
“Two years ago, we received a kit from the municipality including two bins to put in front of our house during collection. These bins, when lifted, automatically calculate the weight they contain”, explains Ludovic Mayne, resident of Rixensart.
“When we received these bins, it was announced – that beyond the ecological aspect – it would be cheaper with the removal of the bin bags. Today, they are asking us for crazy sums without giving us any explanations.
An invoice of 966 €, for which he will have to pay before September 6, 2022. “I will not be able to go on vacation this year”.
One bin per month for a family of five
“Apparently, we would be entitled to 12 free bin surveys per year, that makes one per month. With a family of five, it just seems impossible.”
Contacted by us, the alderman of the municipality in charge of water and waste management, Sylvie Van Den Eynde (NAP-MR), explains: “We set up this system to encourage people to reduce the amount of their waste and to raise awareness about sorting because before everything was thrown in the same bin.” Before adding: “This system was not put in place to save money.”
Ludovic Maynes, for his part, does not understand such an invoice. “That’s €1000 thrown away! How do you do that? Even if the bin is empty they charge for just lifting it and if I can only throw it out once a month it will be much more heavy… This system is aberrant.”
He raises another interesting point in this summer period: “vCan you imagine the smell of a garbage can for a family of five after a month in the middle of a heat wave?”
“It’s going to end up in illegal dumping, it’s not green to charge people so much.”
Invoicing for waste collection is therefore done in two instalments: “there is a fixed bill for the minimum service which is the same for everyone. Then there is an additional bill depending on the number of bins and their weight. But this only concerns a minority of people”,explains the alderman.
The disgruntled citizen disagrees: “There are dozens of people who protest this additional tax on social networks. Even people who are very careful and who have compost explain that they end up with a bill of more than €300!”
“Some wonder if the chip is not defective given the amount they have to pay. Others will simply stop putting their trash cans. It’s going to end up in illegal dumping, it’s not green to charge people so much.”
Sylvie Van Den Eynde, for her part, recalls, “that citizens have access to an internet platform on which it is possible to see in due time the amount of waste they have produced.If they do not agree, they can contact the finance department of the municipality.