A can, a gesture… and it ends up on your plate!
“I dreamed of another world…”
Litter accumulates in the Belgian countryside, transforming our landscapes into open-air landfills.
It is time to open our eyes and act.
Each year, in Wallonia, approximately 30,000 tonnes of litter are collected, incurring an estimated cost of 84 million euros, primarily borne by municipalities and citizens.
Source: COMASE for Be WaPP, Assessment of the costs and quantities of litter and illegal dumping in Wallonia, 2019.
Available here: bewapp.be – COMASE Report (PDF)
Litter in fields: a very real nightmare for Belgian farmers
A strong symbol of Belgian identity (no, we are not talking about the famous red can found on roadsides), our agricultural landscape embodies a precious heritage. But this bucolic image is regularly tarnished by a persistent scourge: litter in the fields. All regions are affected. And this problem endangers our environment, our food supply… and those who cultivate the land.
© fwa.be
While roadsides and forest paths are often targeted by illegal dumping, agricultural lands are not spared. Each year, hundreds of Belgian farmers find plastic bags, cans, household appliances, tires, construction waste, or metal objects in their fields… Thrown from cars or deliberately deposited, this waste is far too abundant.
Direct consequences for farmers
This waste is not just a visual nuisance. It has concrete and sometimes serious impacts:
- Risks for animals (ingestion of plastic, glass, metal…)
- Damage to agricultural machinery
- Soil pollution, with lasting effects on crops
- Cleaning costs borne by farmers
➡️ A simple act of incivility can therefore have considerable economic, ecological, and human repercussions.
What if it ended up on our plate?
Field pollution has consequences far beyond the farms. It threatens:
- The groundwater
- Biodiversity
- Food security
- And the morale of farmers, often left alone to face this situation
HEDGES: What if we regained control…?
What if we used nature to defend ourselves? Planting native hedges along field edges means:
- Creating a natural barrier against illegal dumping
- Discouraging acts of incivility
- Strengthening the rural landscape
- Providing habitat for numerous birds, insects, and small mammals
- Protecting soils against erosion and pollutants
The hedge plays an ecological, symbolic, and practical role: a simple, beautiful, and effective solution.
What everyone can do:
We all have a role to play:
- Do not litter! Not even a single can
- Raise awareness among those around you about waste management
- Report illegal dumping via apps like Wallonie Plus Propre
- Respect the work of farmers and their environment
Fields are not open-air dumps
They are the nurturing heart of our country, places of biodiversity, heritage, and work.
Preserving our countryside means preserving our health, our local economy, and our planet.
