Fost Plus

To meet stringent legal recycling objectives, companies can become members of Fost Plus by paying contributions based on the quantity and type of packaging they introduce to the market. Fost Plus collaborates with inter-municipal authorities responsible for local waste management, who either manage selective collection themselves or engage specialized subcontractors.

The collection scheme includes door-to-door pickup of PMD (plastic bottles and flasks, metal packaging, and drink cartons) in transparent blue bags, door-to-door collection of paper and cardboard, and the use of bottle banks for glass, with separate compartments for colored and white glass. Glass, paper, and cardboard are sent directly to recycling facilities, while PMD bags are transported to sorting centers where materials are separated into mono-material streams (e.g., PET bottles, HDPE flasks, aluminum packaging, steel packaging, and drink cartons) before being processed by specialized recyclers.

Fost Plus serves as the driving force behind household packaging recycling in Belgium, partnering with public and private entities to foster a circular economy—from public collection to sustainable recycling within the country. Recognizing packaging’s essential role in product storage and protection, especially for food, Fost Plus ensures that, through a well-developed collection, sorting, and recycling system, packaging remains in the production cycle as new raw material, thereby minimizing environmental impact.

The organization encourages companies to make sustainable packaging choices and supports the development of new technologies and recycling markets. By promoting cooperation among a unique ecosystem of public and private parties—including authorities, inter-municipal companies, collection firms, sorting centers, recycling companies, producers, and consumers—Fost Plus ensures that all packaging is recycled efficiently and sustainably. This collaborative approach aligns with the vision of a circular economy, where raw materials are retained in the production cycle as much as possible.

In 2023, Fost Plus achieved a record by recycling 97% of all household packaging placed on the Belgian market, underscoring the effectiveness of its comprehensive recycling strategy.

To further enhance recycling efforts, Fost Plus has introduced MyFost, a revamped declaration system that allows companies to declare the packaging they bring to the market. This user-friendly platform enables members to manage their data, consult documents, and ensure compliance with evolving packaging regulations and recycling targets.

Additionally, Fost Plus has been exploring innovative solutions like the smart deposit return system. Pilot projects have been conducted to test the feasibility of a digital system aimed at improving packaging recycling and reducing litter.

Through these initiatives, Fost Plus continues to lead Belgium’s transition toward a sustainable, circular economy for household packaging.

GOVERNANCE 

Fost Plus, a non-profit association (a.s.b.l.) founded in 1994, is the sole household (HH) Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) in Belgium, alongside one commercial and industrial (C&I) PRO. It is owned by 51 shareholders, comprising 29 fillers, 8 retailers, and 14 packaging material producers. The Board of Directors consists of 11 members, including representatives from the distribution sector (4), food industry (3), cosmetics & detergent industry (1), and service packaging industry (1). While details about board members and ownership are not publicly available, Fost Plus adheres to a Code of Conduct. Its governance structure also includes various committees, such as the Remuneration Committee, Audit Committee, and Materials Committee, along with working groups that address specific operational and policy challenges. A list of members can be accessed at this link.

The correct sorting of packaging waste is essential in order to guarantee an effective recycling process. That is why Fost Plus continuously invests in campaigns that remind the public at large of the sorting guidelines and the reasons why, both at a national and a local level.

Sorting is a natural reflex for consumers in their homes. Outside of the residential environment however, sorting does not come as naturally. Fost Plus launches several initiatives to stimulate people to sort – at school, at work, on the beach, during festivals, in sports and recreational centres, and in public places such as stations and airports – and to support organizations in setting up or improving their waste management.

At the same time, Fost Plus and its members continue their battle against litter; the uncivilized behaviour of consumers who abandon their waste in public places. Packaging that ends up as litter is lost to the circular economy.

Ultimately, so that packaging material would be recycled, the packaging must be compatible with the collection, sorting and recycling chain. Fost Plus supports and informs companies on design for recycling initiatives. To that end, Fost Plus created together with Valipac the platform www.packitbetter.be, the Belgian hub for ecodesign.

The circular economy is also a local economy

All the packaging put in the New Blue Bag is recycled in Belgium and in neighboring countries: FostPlus does not only limit the environmental impact, but it also makes a welcome contribution to the local economy. Almost 80% of the materials collected by Fost Plus are processed in Belgium itself.
All materials collected by Fost Plus today are processed and recycled in Europe to produce secondary raw materials. Almost 80% is processed here in Belgium and almost 20% more in the neighbouring countries of Germany, France and the Netherlands.

The New Blue Bag takes another step further. From now on, the packaging is sorted in five brand-new high-tech sorting centres in Belgium. Over the next few years, new recycling plants are to be built in Belgium as well. This way, the circular economy also becomes a local economy.

Recycling close to home brings nothing but advantages!

Lower environmental impact: Recycling packaging close to home is essential to avoid transporting it over long distances. This limits CO2 emissions from trucks.

Local jobs

Sorting and recycling packaging materials is a major economic activity that creates a good many jobs. FostPlus employs a total of 15000 people in Belgium for the sorting and recycling of packaging. The new sorting and recycling centres for the New Blue Bag are to create another 500 direct and almost twice as many indirect jobs.
FostPlus website indicates the sorting centers and the recycling plants where the PMD, glass and paper-cardboard collected in Belgium are processed.

asbl Fost Plus vzw

avenue des Olympiades 2
BE-1140 Brussel

Tel: +32 2 775 03 50

Web: www.fostplus.be
E-mail: fostplus@fostplus.be