Catch-up rounds to clear backlog of rubbish on streets

Household waste went uncollected in nine Brussels communes on Tuesday as collections were hit by the nationwide day of industrial action over pension and retirement reforms.

Binbags remain on the streets in Anderlecht, Etterbeek, Evere, Ganshoren, Jette, Koekelberg, Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and Woluwe-Saint-Lambert.

If your waste was not picked up, Bruxelles Properté says the bags can be left outside without risking a fine.

"We ask residents whose bags were not collected to leave them on the pavement against their building," the collection firm said. "On Tuesday afternoon and in the coming days, catch-up tours will be organised according to the availability of staff."

However, priority will be given to blue pastic recycling bags - not white bags for unsorted household waste.

Thousands of protesters gathered in Belgian cities on Tuesday against federal government measures which unions say will "undermine the pension system".

According to police estimates, there were 4,000 demonstrators in Brussels, 3,000 in Namur and 4,000 in Ghent and Hasselt.

The biggest turnout was in Liège, where an estimated 7,000 people took to the streets.