EcoWerf, officially known as Intergemeentelijk Milieubedrijf Oost-Brabant, is a public inter-municipal environmental company based in Wilsele, near Leuven, Belgium. Established in 2003 as an opdrachtgevende vereniging, it manages waste policies for 28 municipalities in East Brabant, serving approximately 483,000 residents.
EcoWerf handles household waste collection via door-to-door services, operates 24 recycling parks, and oversees 843 glass recycling points. It processes 47,000 tons of green waste annually through anaerobic digestion and composting, generating 9,150 MWh of electricity, 7,550 MWh of heat, and 24,000 tons of compost. The company promotes waste prevention, reuse, and circular practices, including pay-as-you-throw (DifTar) billing via digital platforms.
In line with sustainability goals, EcoWerf has launched initiatives like inland waterway transport for packaging waste (PMD), compacting and shipping up to 10,000 tons yearly to sorting facilities, reducing road trips and CO₂ emissions. It partners with specialized firms for material recovery, contributing to regional recycling efforts.
Also known as Intergemeentelijk Milieubedrijf Oost-Brabant.
PMD collection now shipped by inland vessel: 10,000 t/year (replacing ~2,320 road trips), press reduces volume by two-thirds, cuts CO2 by ~127 t/yr; plan to move half waste to waterways.
