In view of the observation that businesses do not necessarily have the time or knowledge required to optimise the prevention and management of their waste, the 2010 Waste Management Plan of the Brussels-Capital Region included a proposal for putting waste adviser services at the disposal of businesses. This is how the Brussels Waste Network programme was created as a joint initiative of the environmental administration of the region (Bruxelles-Environnement) and the Brussels Enterprises Commerce and Industry (BECI). The aim is to organise and coordinate a network of waste advisers that corresponds to the needs and challenges faced by businesses in the region. The implementation and operations of the network are based on the assumption that waste and related problems differ across the sector of activity but that businesses within the same sector face similar problems. This is why waste advisers have been created within sectoral/business federations and in addition a dedicated waste adviser at BECI plays a coordinating role for all running projects and all advisers who are part of this network.
The main objectives of the Brussels Waste Network are to:
- develop a platform for exchange of information between the private and the public sector;
- manage a network of “waste resources” advisers from different sectors of activities and encourage the sharing of best practices among them;
- offer information and advice in terms of prevention and management of waste/resources (via service helpdesk, webpage, newsletter);
- disseminate practical tools to prevent and manage waste/resources.
The Brussels Waste Network organises regular calls for projects which lead to the creation of different tools, allowing companies to improve their waste management. Altogether these projects have achieved the following results since the creation of the programme:
- 140 businesses in Brussels have taken effective actions to improve their internal waste management;
- 55 persons within the companies participating as project developers have been trained or involved;
- 15 tools for improved waste management have been created;
- 41 plans of action have been implemented in businesses.
These measures have had a beneficial impact on different aspects of internal waste management, for instance enhancing prevention/reduction of waste or improving separation at source (for better reuse/recycling).