The municipality of Etterbeek (Belgium) is a local public authority located in the Brussels urban area. Etterbeek offers to its 48500 citizens a large range of services.
Etterbeek is a democratic public body. The municipality regularly sets and publishes its policy priorities.
Our municipality works closely with the Brussels Region, a supra-local level of power that encompasses the entire Brussels urban area.
Etterbeek has a fast-growing population with more than 150 nationalities, representing almost 50% of the population. This high proportion of foreign citizens is for a great part due to the proximity with the European district where important EU institutions are located. But there are also other profiles: international students, economic migrants, family reunification, etc.
The municipality of Etterbeek is characterized by diverse socioeconomic profiles, mixing households of the upper, middle and popular classes, including homeless and people in very precarious situation. We have almost 10% social housing or similar. Young adults between the ages of 25 and 40 are largely represented in the commune, but our many schools attract children and young people from all around.
In terms of social cohesion, this diversity is both a great opportunity and a challenge (language barriers, cultural and socio-economic gaps). And this is why Etterbeek wants to encourage the involvement of everyone in local affairs.
Our municipality is densely urbanized (almost 15000 inhabitants per km2) and we face several urban economic, social and environmental challenges, such as energy transition and efficiency (including renovation of old housing), demographic change, social inclusion, citizen participation and local democracy, circular economy, waste management, mobility or adaptation to climate change (heat waves), culture and cultural heritage, digital transition, employment, etc.
We want to move forward by promoting sustainable urban development, the circular economy and smart city concepts, while ensuring the inclusion and participation of all.
Among our more specific project ideas and challenges, we wish to develop and benefit from innovative solutions in the area of circular economy:
- We could use a rundown building that could be rehabilitated as a recycling centre, for example
- We could create there a reference place for collecting, sorting and repairing objects that citizens want to get rid of. The refurbished objects would then be sold at low prices in the shop
- It would also be a socio-professional integration project, where low-skilled people could learn the trades of the circular economy (refurbishment of goods and objects)
- This recycling centre could specialise in electronics and household appliances
- This initiative could have an important virtual on-line component (platform for donations, sales, knowledge exchange, etc.), as well as an educational dimension: conferences, ‘repair café’, do-it-yourself workshops…
- We could develop a local partnership with:
- different municipal services including the waste disposal centre and the “expulsion depot”
- Technical and vocational schools in our territory
- The Espace Libellule of our CPAS (social grocery shop)
- Other municipalities around, the Brussels Region and specialized businesses
- Etc.