Can I burn garden waste?
No, in principle not — burning garden waste is banned across Belgium. Only a small ambience fire in dry, untreated wood is tolerated. In Flanders, VLAREM bans the open-air burning of almost all waste, explicitly including green and garden waste (leaves, prunings). A few exceptions exist: a sociable campfire or an ambience fire in a fire bowl/basket with dry untreated wood, and farmers or nature managers may burn plant residue when there is no alternative — always at at least 100 metres from houses (art. 89 of the Field Code). Burning prunings to 'get rid of them' does not fall under this and stays banned. In Wallonia, the same principle, with an exception for dry natural garden waste more than 100 m from homes and 25 m from woods; municipalities can be stricter. In Brussels, burning (garden) waste is banned. A barbecue in your own garden is always allowed.
📋 The rules
- Burning garden waste is banned in all three regions (VLAREM, waste rules)
- Tolerated: a campfire or an ambience fire (fire bowl/basket) with dry, untreated wood
- Exceptions (farming, nature management, plant-health): only at ≥ 100 m from homes (art. 89 Field Code), often with municipal consent
- Burning prunings or leaves 'to be rid of them': stays banned
- Wallonia: dry natural garden waste tolerated at > 100 m from homes and > 25 m from woods; municipalities may be stricter
- Brussels: burning waste is banned; only a barbecue with a suitable appliance
🔓 Exceptions
- A barbecue in your own garden is always allowed; a small fire in dry wood too, unless a drought or municipal ban applies
- Folk fires (e.g. Christmas-tree burning): only with the municipality's written consent and at > 100 m from housing
- In Wallonia, dry natural garden waste is tolerated more than 100 m from homes and 25 m from woods — that tolerance exists neither in Flanders nor in Brussels, and Walloon municipalities may be stricter
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Illegally burning garden waste brings a report: it goes to the GAS officer — a fine up to €500 for adults and €175 for minors (€350 where the regulation hasn't been updated) — or to the public prosecutor. For serious or repeated waste burning, the Environmental Enforcement Decree provides far higher administrative or criminal fines. In Wallonia a breach of the police regulation runs up to €350. What people don't see coming: even a tolerated ambience fire turns into an offence the moment garden waste goes into it.
📎 Official sources
- VMM · FAQ open-air burning →
- OVAM · landfill and incineration bans →
- UVCW (Wallonia) · burning garden waste (art. 89 Rural Code) →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I burn my prunings in the garden?
No. Burning garden waste, prunings and leaves included, is banned in all three regions. Take it to the recycling park, shred it or compost it — burning it 'to be rid of it' stays banned everywhere.
What about a fire bowl or basket?
A small ambience fire in dry, untreated wood is allowed — but not to burn garden waste in. During drought or under a municipal ban it must go out as well, so always check your municipality's regulation first.
Can I at least have a barbecue?
Yes, a barbecue in your own garden with a suitable appliance is always allowed, in all three regions. It is about cooking, not burning waste — even in Brussels, where burning waste itself is banned.
I live in the countryside — can I burn there?
Only within the legal exceptions (farming or nature management with no alternative), and even then at least 100 metres from homes, often with municipal consent. Burning plain garden waste stays banned there too.
Are the rules different in Wallonia?
The principle is the same, but Wallonia tolerates dry natural garden waste more than 100 m from homes and 25 m from woods. Municipalities there may be stricter, so that tolerance is not a general right.
🔎 Common searches
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