Overall results for Belgium
The overall results for Belgium are calculated using a European calculation method, which was completely revised as of 2020. The old European method applied up to the end of 2019 and was used to calculate the figures for that year. The new European method has applied to figures reported since the beginning of 2020.
To calculate the overall Belgian figures, only the applicable European calculation method has ever been used, without any adjustment. This explains the deviation in the trend observed in the figures for 2020, particularly for plastics. You will find these figures in Section 5.5 below.
Results of Fost Plus and Valipac
As from 2020, the IRPC chose to adapt the internal Belgian method used to calculate the results of the accredited compliance organisations Fost Plus and Valipac to incorporate some of the principles of the new European method for calculating the European recycling targets. This is the “new” method for calculating the results of Fost Plus and Valipac.
Different objectives
The separate calculations (for the results of the accredited compliance organisations Fost Plus and Valipac, on the one hand, and for the overall Belgian results, on the other) will continue to co-exist, as each has different objectives.
You can find out more about the calculation method here. ↓
5.1. Fost Plus results for 2022
NEW CALCULATION METHOD
Fields shaded in grey are for information only.
Uncapped quantities and rates are in [vierkante haakjes].
The targets are 80% for recycling, and 90% for total recovery.
The new calculation method relates to the results obtained by the accredited compliance organisation under the take-back obligation set out in the Cooperation Agreement and does not include corrections for free-riders or parallel imports (minus parallel exports). These corrections will be made when calculating the Belgian figures to be reported to Eurostat. The new calculation method does include corrections for product residues, increase in moisture content (compared with materials placed on the market) and sorting losses at recyclers. The quantities recycled by recyclers are calculated at the start of the recycling process. Drink cartons are still considered a separate material but – for Eurostat reporting purposes – will be added to the paper/cardboard streams as regards the paper/cardboard portion, and to the plastic stream as regards the plastic/aluminium portion. Only recycled quantities are included in the recycling figures. Metals are sorted into ferrous metals and aluminium. In accordance with the new calculation method, metals recovered from incinerator scrap are limited to the estimated quantities of metal packaging waste in the streams destined for incineration, and to which the average extraction rates of the ferrous metal (0.85) and aluminium (0.80) processing plants are then applied. Where necessary, all figures are capped at 100%.
To enable comparison with previous years, the figures calculated using the old method are also shown below.
OLD CALCULATION METHOD
Fields shaded in grey are for information only.
Uncapped quantities and rates are in [vierkante haakjes].
The targets are 80% for recycling, and 90% for total recovery.
The new calculation method relates to the results obtained by the accredited compliance organisation under the take-back obligation set out in the Cooperation Agreement and does not include corrections for free-riders or parallel imports (minus parallel exports). These corrections will be made when calculating the Belgian figures to be reported to Eurostat. The new calculation method does include corrections for product residues, increase in moisture content (compared with materials placed on the market) and sorting losses at recyclers. The quantities recycled by recyclers are calculated at the start of the recycling process. Drink cartons are still considered a separate material but – for Eurostat reporting purposes – will be added to the paper/cardboard streams as regards the paper/cardboard portion, and to the plastic stream as regards the plastic/aluminium portion. Only recycled quantities are included in the recycling figures. Metals are sorted into ferrous metals and aluminium. In accordance with the new calculation method, metals recovered from incinerator scrap are limited to the estimated quantities of metal packaging waste in the streams destined for incineration, and to which the average extraction rates of the ferrous metal (0.85) and aluminium (0.80) processing plants are then applied. Where necessary, all figures are capped at 100%.
5.2. Valipac results for 2022
NEW CALCULATION METHOD
Uncapped quantities and rates are in [square brackets].
The targets are 80% for recycling , and 85% for total recovery.
The new calculation method relates to the results obtained by the accredited compliance organisation under the take-back obligation set out in the Cooperation Agreement and does not include corrections for free-riders. These corrections will be made when calculating the Belgian figures to be reported to Eurostat. The new calculation method does include full corrections for product residues, increase in moisture content (compared with materials placed on the market) and sorting losses at recyclers. The quantities recycled by recyclers are calculated at the start of the recycling process, based on the various reports by and checks on waste collection services, sorting plants, traders and recyclers. In accordance with the new calculation method, ferrous metals recovered from incinerator scrap are limited to the estimated quantities of metal packaging waste in the streams destined for incineration, and to which the average extraction rate of the ferrous metal processing plants (0.85) is then applied. Where necessary, all figures are capped at 100%.
OLD CALCULATION METHOD
Uncapped quantities and rates are in [square brackets].
The targets are 80% for recycling , and 85% for total recovery.
The old calculation method does not include corrections for free-riders, but it does make partial corrections for product residues, increase in moisture content (compared with materials placed on the market) and sorting losses at recyclers. The quantities recycled by recyclers are calculated at the start of the recycling process, based on the various reports by and checks on waste collection services, sorting plants, traders and recyclers. In accordance with the new calculation method, ferrous metals recovered from incinerator scrap are limited to the estimated quantities of metal packaging waste in the streams destined for incineration, and to which the average extraction rate of the ferrous metal processing plants (0.85) is then applied. Where necessary, all figures are capped at 100%.
5.3. Results of the individual responsible companies in 2022
A total of 72 companies fulfilled the take-back obligation for 2022 themselves. This mainly concerns industrial and commercial packaging waste.
The table below shows the tonnages and rates obtained after analysing all declarations for 2022 and applying the new calculation method. The declarations were corrected to comply with the European calculation method.
5.4. Beverage packaging figures
Article 13(1) of the Cooperation Agreement sets a collection and recycling target of 90% for beverage packaging from 2022.
The table below shows the quantities of beverage packaging collected and recycled in 2022 for Fost Plus members.
1 Including ferrous metal materials recovered from incinerator scrap.
2 Excluding ferrous metal materials recovered from incinerator scrap.
The above figures comply with the new European calculation method (deduction of contamination, moisture content, etc.).
5.5. Overall results for 2022 – Belgian recycling figures
Due to the specific calculation method used for the European figures, the overall Belgian results cannot be compared with those of the accredited compliance organisations and the individual responsible companies. The figures that Belgium has to report to Eurostat (the European Commission) are not merely the sum of the one-way packaging placed on the market and recycled by the accredited compliance organisations and the individual responsible companies; they also take into account free-riders, parallel imports (imports by private individuals), etc. In addition, reusable packaging placed on the market for the first time or taken out of circulation is also included. We applied the new European calculation method in its entirety.
Recycling trends in Belgium in percentages
1 Since the 2020 reporting year, drink cartons have been split into two fractions in the figures reported to the EU: a paper/cardboard fraction (added to the paper/cardboard total) and a PolyAl fraction (added to the plastic total), for which recycling must be demonstrated separately.
2 Since the 2020 reporting year, the “metals (total)” stream has been separated into a ferrous metal fraction and an aluminium fraction.
Total quantity recycled in tonnes, pallet repair included
