Pallets, fridges, tractor tyres, mooring ropes, wrecked bikes … you name it, it ends up in the water. At Port of Antwerp-Bruges, we are committed to a clean port and deploy a range of resources to keep and remove floating waste from the water. As such, we work mainly on prevention, but also collect any reported floating waste.
Specialised and licensed companies collect waste specifically for shipping such as oil or bilge water.
Have you seen something floating that shouldn't be in the water? In Antwerp, waste collection boats hit the waves to fish out waste and litter in the port's water. In Zeebrugge, the Harbour Master's Office coordinates the clean-up of litter and dumped waste from the water.
Various activities within the port generate different types of residual waste. For example, oil or waste specific to shipping, such as sludge or bilge water (oil-water mixture in the engine room). For maritime shipping, the legislation is enshrined in the Waste Management Plan. For inland navigation, the Flemish Waste Management Plan for Inland Navigation applies.
A licensed waste collector has an OVAM permit and meets the conditions of the Harbour Master's Office.
The provisions of EU Directive 2019/883/EC and the Flemish Regulations on sustainable management of Material Cycles and Waste Materials (VLAREMA) require seaports to draw up a waste management plan for port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues. They also have the responsibility to devise a financial system whereby every calling ship contributes to the cost of these facilities. Port of Antwerp-Bruges manages the waste fees and uses them as a financial contribution towards the costs of using the port reception facilities in the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge. With this contribution, Port of Antwerp-Bruges aims to encourage ships to dispose of their waste and prevent the discharge of ship-generated waste.
The waste management plan for the port areas of Antwerp and Zeebrugge can be downloaded below.
