Article 4: 30 Years of the Blue Bag: A Recycling Success Story

Thirty years ago, Belgium introduced the Blue PMD Bag, marking a major milestone in the collection and sorting of packaging waste. In 1994, the Blue Bag was launched to enable the separate collection of Plastic packaging, Metal packaging, and Drink cartons (PMD).

The sorting rules have been strict from the very beginning, and they remain so today. In the early years, this sometimes caused confusion among citizens, as packaging sorting was still a relatively new concept.

In 2021, the system was expanded to allow a wider range of plastic packaging, such as yoghurt pots, butter tubs, and plastic films, to be placed in the Blue Bag. This made sorting easier for consumers, while sorting technology itself became more advanced and efficient. As a result, more packaging was processed correctly, and recycling rates increased significantly.

In addition to boosting collection volumes, this expansion led to investments in six state-of-the-art sorting centres and new recycling facilities. As a result, more waste is now processed within Belgium, strengthening the country’s circular economy.

The success of the Blue Bag is largely due to the commitment of Belgian citizens and clear communication about sorting rules. Campaigns such as “If it’s packaging, it goes in the bag” and “Without proper sorting, there is no recycling” highlight the importance of sorting waste correctly. Thanks to this collective effort, Belgium continues to lead the way in packaging recycling while building a more sustainable future.

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