Waste management company IVAREM, operating in the region around Mechelen and Lier, has implemented additional measures to protect both its staff and visitors to recycling parks from the extreme heat. Visitors are strongly urged to visit the recycling parks only in the mornings. Furthermore, waste collection schedules are being adjusted to reduce the physical strain on employees during this hot period.
Context of the measures
The VRT NWS report of June 24, 2026, states that the "persistent heat" is the reason for these adjustments. It was previously announced that an orange alert is in effect across almost all of Belgium due to the heatwave, with forecasts reaching up to 39 degrees Celsius. These measures by IVAREM align with a broader trend where various sectors are taking action to mitigate the effects of high temperatures, such as farmers in Limburg protecting their livestock and schools and nursing homes implementing their own protective measures.