The "Soils" Ordinance, updated in 2009, 2017, and 2021, governs the identification and treatment of potentially contaminated sites in the Brussels-Capital Region. This inventory covers over 11,000 cadastral plots. A multi-step procedure, carried out by an accredited expert, determines the nature and extent of pollution and allows for its remediation or risk management for human health and the environment.
Several situations can trigger soil study obligations: the sale of land listed in the inventory, the start or cessation of high-risk activities, excavation work, or the accidental discovery of pollution. The evolution of studies and treatments shows an increase in treatments since 2005, with 1,137 remediation or risk management projects completed.
The most frequent soil pollutants are heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and mineral oils. Since 2021, PFAS have also been analyzed, identified on 82 plots. Between 2005 and 2025, 1,908 plots were reallocated after treatment, at an average cost of €46 per m².
The Brussels-Capital Region offers financial, technical, and administrative aid, notably through soil grants for orphan or unconfirmed pollution. Since 2007, 5,872 grants have been awarded totaling €19.5 million. Specific funds like BOFAS (service stations) and Promaz (heating oil) also exist.
Bruxelles Environnement also manages research campaigns, such as public treatment for complex contaminations and PFAS campaigns. The soil status inventory, continuously updated, lists 15,292 plots, nearly half of which are potentially polluted. It is accessible via an interactive map and soil attestations.
