Residents build wall of waste at Anderlecht town hall in protest over weekend cleaning cuts

The decision that ignited the protest

A few weeks ago, the Anderlecht municipal administration introduced cost-saving measures that suspended cleanliness services on weekends. The Cureghem district is particularly affected because it lies between the Midi Market, held every Sunday, and the Anderlecht Abattoirs, open daily. "These places generate an enormous amount of waste, especially on the weekend," said Charlotte Inghels, a Cureghem resident and one of the initiative's organizers. Residents had already approached the municipality about the deterioration, but the response was not encouraging.

“The alderman said he 'hoped' to have a new team in three months. That is after the summer — it cannot drag on like this.”

Sunday's wall of waste

On Sunday morning, around 80 people — residents, citizen collectives, and local associations — gathered at 10:30, equipped with gloves, tongs, and rubbish bags. They collected waste from their own streets, using four vans to shuttle the refuse to the town hall on the Raadsplein. By midday, they had erected a wall of trash outside the building.

“The neighbourhood is still far from perfect and we realize this will not be the last time, but the aim was not to clean the area for one day. The aim was to make visible what residents experience daily and to direct a clear call to the authorities.”

What the residents are demanding

The protestors are calling for the immediate return of weekend cleanliness services and for their reinforcement during the summer and at times of high footfall. They also want more public bins and collection methods tailored to the real needs of the district, drawn up in consultation with residents and that respect workers' conditions. Inghels stressed they are not asking for special treatment.

“We are not asking for preferential treatment for Cureghem. We are asking for equal treatment. Savings must be adapted to the needs and challenges of each neighbourhood, not applied blindly across the entire municipality.”

An uncertain response from the municipality

The municipal administration has been informed of the problem for some time, but residents say the only commitment so far is the alderman's hope to have a replacement team operational after the summer. Inghels argued that the situation cannot wait three months, and the protest was conceived two weeks ago as a direct, visible appeal. The residents intend to maintain pressure until concrete measures are put in place.