Opinion — Tervuren’s first refuse collectors’ strike in almost 50 years did not happen by accident. The dispute surrounding Interrand, our waste collection company shared with Overijse and Hoeilaart, and was escalated by Mayor Thomas Geyns’ social media attacks on the organisation. But convenient introduction of the controversial Diftar pay-by-weight waste system in March 2026, well after 2024 elections, has not aided understanding even if it spared Voor Tervuren and Groen+ top candidates from answering residents’ concerns.
Scroll down for our FAQ with all your questions about Diftar.
What began as an attempt to channel public frustration over Diftar, the controversial pay-by-weight waste collection system, quickly spiralled into something far more damaging. Through repeated public attacks on Interrand, our intermunicipal waste company, via Facebook and local media, Geyns helped provoke the first strike by Tervuren’s refuse collectors in almost half a century.
Former mayor Marc Charlier (N-VA) may earn fewer social media likes than the current mayor. And he would almost certainly have handled the dispute more discreetly. Back in 2022, Charlier warned that Diftar would prove “twice as slow and twice as expensive”. Looking at today’s chaos, many residents may conclude he had a point.
Although approved in 2022, Diftar’s introduction was delayed till March 2026, sparing Voor Tervuren and Groen+ top candidates the burden of explaining the extra costs and complications of the new system until well after October 2024 elections. Since then complaints have been constant: overflowing containers, unpleasant smells, the loss of parking spaces, rising bills and a pricing system many residents still struggle to understand.
Geyns social media posting may have deprived the French-speaking Tervuren Unie-Volt of what often seemed their councilors’ staple talking point. Council debates had repeatedly seen lengthy Diftar monologues, even including a call from Tervuren Unie-Volt for the town’s diplomats to enjoy language facilities and easier access to the waste containers. Perhaps less controversially, Groen+ called for reusable pampers.
The mayor’s social media messaging appeared simpler: Interrand was the problem.
Not the 2022 decision to adopt Diftar, pushed through by Thomas Geyns’ Voor Tervuren alliance (Anders and CD&V) together with Groen+. Not the political choices and messaging that led to the current system. The blame, residents were encouraged to believe, lay elsewhere.
How Thomas Geyns’ criticism of Interrand led to a waste collection strike
According to an Interrand team leader, the mayor’s repeated public criticism proved the final straw. Workers who had already endured months of uncertainty walked out. Suddenly, Tervuren’s rubbish was not being collected at all.
The irony was hard to miss.
After days of disruption and unwelcome headlines — aided, no doubt, by cooler weather that spared residents the worst smells from Diftar containers — the mayor’s tone softened. The Facebook crusade faded. Attention shifted elsewhere.
Interrand’s management, we are now told, is responsible. Not the mayor.
That explanation is particularly convenient when one recalls that Jan Trappeniers, a Voor Tervuren councillor, serves as a remunerated vice-chair of Interrand’s board.
While refuse collectors point to Diftar’s increased workload, the strike exposed deeper frustrations that have been building for years.
Even Groen Tervuren entered the fray. One of its councillors, probably the party’s Interrand board member, accused Geyns of grandstanding while the future of Interrand itself remains uncertain. Overijse wants an 18-year extension of the intermunicipal cooperation agreement. Tervuren refuses. Meanwhile, staff have spent months in limbo, unsure what the future holds.
Yet there is an uncomfortable truth that all sides would rather avoid.
Why Tervuren must reduce household waste under Flemish targets
Tervuren has little choice but to reduce its waste output. European and Flemish environmental targets require municipalities to cut residual household waste that is most often sent for incineration from today’s average of 124kg per resident to around 90kg annually. Tervuren remains well behind neighbouring Bertem, which has already reduced its figure to 83kg through Diftar.
The real debate, therefore, is not whether change is necessary. Our residual waste is sent for incineration in far away Beringen, but that does not exempt Tervuren’s politicians from taking responsibility for the consequences.
The Interrand strike has exposed wider questions about Diftar, waste collection policy and political accountability in Tervuren. Whether residents support or oppose the system, Mayor Thomas Geyns cannot easily separate himself from decisions that his own coalition helped make.
📋 Frequently Asked Questions About Diftar
Essential details regarding Interrand’s container system and standard pricing updates across Tervuren, Hoeilaart, and Overijse.
💰 What are the Diftar prices for containers in Tervuren?
Every household is mandated to choose a residual waste wheeled container. Billing is calculated using three distinct metrics under the “polluter pays” principle: a fixed monthly container rental fee, a fixed fee every time the bin is placed at the curbside for emptying, and a variable weight processing fee per kilogram.
| Container Type & Vol. | Monthly Rent | Emptying Cost (Per Use) | Processing Fee (Per Kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residual Waste (40L / 140L) | € 0.70 | € 0.65 | € 0.32 |
| Residual Waste (240L) | € 1.40 | € 1.30 | € 0.32 |
| GFT Organic (40L / 140L) *Optional | € 0.70 | € 0.10 | € 0.16 |
| GFT Organic (240L) *Optional | € 1.40 | € 0.20 | € 0.16 |
How is the weight of my waste calculated?
Each residual waste container contains an electronic chip that links it to a specific household. When the container is emptied, it is weighed both before and after collection by a calibrated system on the collection vehicle. The difference determines the exact amount of waste charged. Residents normally pay only for the waste that is actually collected.
Is a residual waste container mandatory?
Yes. Interrand requires every household to use a residual waste container for household waste. The container must be used, but residents are free to decide how often they present it for collection. Although collections take place every two weeks, there is no obligation to put the bin outside each time. Flemish households place their containers outside an average of 15 times per year. If you never put your bin out, you can expect an intervention from the municipal waste coach.
Why can some households pay more under Diftar?
Because charges are based on weight, heavier waste streams have a direct impact on costs. One common example is cat litter. Cat litter cannot be disposed of in the GFT (organic waste) stream due to hygiene and processing concerns, even when labelled biodegradable. It must therefore be placed in the residual waste container, which is charged at the higher rate of €0.32 per kilogram. Organic kitchen or fruit waste left inside the residual bin will also heavily increase total weight charges.
How can cat owners reduce waste costs?
Interrand recommends reducing residual waste where possible by:
- Using flushable litter where permitted and safe
- Choosing biodegradable litter made from wood, paper, straw, corn or coconut fibres and composting it where appropriate
- Using clumping litter so only soiled portions are discarded
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