Torhout (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A 30 cm shell was found at the Torhout recycling centre. Police called DOVO to remove it safely. Staff warned against placing ammunition in scrap bins; no injuries reported.
As VRT News reported, a shell was found this morning, Nov 12, 2025, at the Torhout recycling centre in West Flanders, Belgium. A park ranger inspecting a container of scrap metal noticed the object on top of the pile. The shell measured about 30 centimetres long and 10 centimetres in diameter.
What risks does the shell found at the Torhout recycling centre pose?
The ranger informed the local police, who quickly secured the area. Authorities called DOVO, the Belgian military bomb disposal service, to remove and safely dispose of the shell. The container and nearby areas were evacuated as a precaution. No injuries were reported.
Authorities confirmed that the shell found at the Torhout recycling centre did not pose any significant danger. Staff at the recycling centre stressed that shells, bullets, and other ammunition should never be placed in scrap metal bins. The rules are clearly displayed on the containers to warn residents about the dangers of mixing hazardous objects with regular scrap.
Old ammunition and shells are occasionally found in Belgium at recycling centres and construction sites. In August 2024, a World War II–era grenade was discovered at a waste treatment site in Tenneville, Luxembourg province. Authorities evacuated the area, and the military bomb disposal unit removed the device safely. In September 2023, a shell was found in a scrap metal container in Ostend, prompting police to call the military disposal team.
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