Oostende to implement weekly organic waste collection

Starting October 1, 2026, the city of Oostende will implement weekly doorstep collection of GFT+ waste, which includes fruit, vegetable, and garden waste, as well as cooked food remnants like meat, fish, and shellfish. This initiative follows a mandate from the Flemish government to improve waste separation.

The city aims to reduce residual waste and mitigate seagull nuisance, as food scraps in standard waste bags attract birds. To prevent this, the city is providing seagull-resistant bins with secure lids. The bins are designed to be easy to clean and have a maximum capacity of 10 kilograms.

In addition to the new organic waste collection, Oostende is updating its waste management system. From October 1, all doorstep collections—including GFT+, PMD, paper, cardboard, and residual waste—will occur during the day on the same weekday throughout the year. Furthermore, new yellow residual waste bags will be introduced; current green bags will remain valid until March 31, 2027, after which only yellow bags will be collected.