Brussels tests out incentive for recycling empty cans

You can now make money from handing back empty drink cans in Brussels, in a new experiment at select locations.

A project launched on Monday has equipped three public places with machines that give five-cent coupons for each discarded can. 

The project, based on an initiative from ministers Céline Fremault and Fadila Laanan, is meant to reduce cans being littered in the environment. Each can placed in the machine will produce a five-cent coupon which can be presented at participating businesses. The machines can hold up to 4,500 cans.

The three machines will be on the ULB Solbosch campus in front of Avenue Paul Héger in Ixelles, the Alma site of UCL and at Place de la Monnaie in downtown Brussels.

The system will be tried for at least six months, while impact tests are being run. 

The businesses that accept the coupons will be posted on www.primeretour.brussels.