{"id":23079,"date":"2023-11-15T08:00:10","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T08:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/recyclingnetwerk.org\/?p=23079"},"modified":"2025-01-08T08:12:47","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T08:12:47","slug":"fost-plus-is-exaggerating-belgian-recycling-figures-are-incorrect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fairresourcefoundation.org\/en\/fost-plus-is-exaggerating-belgian-recycling-figures-are-incorrect\/","title":{"rendered":"Fost Plus is exaggerating: Belgian recycling figures are incorrect"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fost Plus has been publishing the most spectacular recycling figures for years.\u00a0For some materials we even achieve more than 100%.\u00a0How is it possible that we recycle more in Belgium than we consume?\u00a0How do we do that while there is still so much litter?\u00a0The figures have been questioned and criticized several times (Recover<\/a>\u00a0, 2018;\u00a0RNB<\/a>\u00a0, 2018).\u00a0Now RNB has published a detailed report that clearly shows that Fost Plus’s figures are incorrect.<\/p>\n

This report on the inflated recycling figures is part of a large-scale study into the performance of Fost Plus.\u00a0This series of reports comes at a crucial time: Fost Plus’ 5-year contract expires at the end of this year.\u00a0RNB advises the Belgian government to impose strict conditions on new recognition.<\/p>\n


\nFull report
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

Unrealistic figures<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Belgian recycling figures are good.\u00a0But not as well as Fost Plus dares to communicate.\u00a0Because claiming that you recycle 105% of all ferrous metals and even 123% of all glass (\u00a02022 report<\/a>\u00a0) is misleading.<\/p>\n

Fost Plus is creative with the data.\u00a0They compare everything they collect for recycling with only what their members put on the market, which is not the entire Belgian packaging market.\u00a0So that’s how you get sky-high percentages.<\/p>\n

According to our calculations, 59% of our PMD is currently recycled, and not 64.8% as Fost Plus claims (see the report for the calculation).\u00a0An additional 18,000 tons of PMD\u00a0<\/b>would\u00a0have to be recycled\u00a0<\/b>to really reach 64.8%.\u00a0This is no less than 900 million plastic bottles\u00a0.<\/p>\n

Chlo\u00e9 Schwizgebel, RNB: \u201c\u00a0Fost Plus’ creative accounting must stop.\u00a0It is important that policy is formed on the basis of transparent and complete data.\u00a0The new recognition for Fost Plus must include strict rules on data collection and reporting<\/i>\u00a0.\u201d<\/p>\n

How can it be better?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Will Fost Plus continue to exaggerate its recycling results for another five years?\u00a0We cannot allow that.\u00a0That is why we provide concrete recommendations in this report for the next recognition.\u00a0We recommend, among other things:<\/p>\n