Municipal Waste Europe was established in 2008 as a network of public waste management associations who felt that they needed an identity and a voice in Brussels. The association was formally registered as a non-profit organization (aisbl) under Belgian law in 2009 and elected its first Board. Their aim was to build an information network in Brussels through which to keep a finger on the pulse of EU decision-making while also bringing the members closer together and learning from each other. Municipal Waste Europe steadily strengthened its presence in Brussels, reaching its 10 year milestone in 2019 and continues to develop its reputation of reliability and transparency with fellow stakeholder associations and the European institutions.