Afval sorteren in De Slimste Mens ter Wereld

How does “afval sorteren” work in the Netherlands and Belgium?

Afval sorteren (“sorting waste”) is the at-home recycling system most Dutch and Belgian households are legally required to follow. Households separate trash into multiple streams: PMD (plastic, metal, drink cartons), GFT (kitchen and garden waste), oud papier, glas, textiel, and restafval. The Netherlands and Belgium both run kerb-side pickup on a fixed weekly rotation, with municipality-issued color-coded bins or bags. The country averages a household-recycling rate near 60%, among the highest in the EU.

In this clip, a Slimste Mens contestant is teased about their sorting habits: “Doe je dat afval sorteren? Jazeker. Met linker zak heb ik vaak meer de grondachtige producten. En rechts metaal en baksteen.”