Recycling, repairs, receipts: Environmental changes in France in 2023
We look at Europe’s first waste water recycling system in Sables-d’Olonne, the growing list of items you can get money to repair and more
Waste water recycled into drinking water; money to repair more household items; you will have to request till receipts after April 1, 2023
Alter-ego / Penyushkina / Matteo Fes / Shutterstock
Money to repair household items
More items are to be included in the anti-waste plan launched last year that gives money off repair work on household items.
These are dishwashers, tumble dryers, built-in ovens, stoves, stand-alone cookers, laptops, digital cameras, sports equipment, audio or video equipment, games consoles, drones, kitchen stove hoods, musical instruments, garden tools, coffee machines, kettles, blenders and toasters.
Click on the green Réparer button on the Ecosystem website.
Read more: New grant launches to repair home goods in France: how much for what?
Floating wind turbines
A trial of offshore floating wind turbines is to start off Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, Bouches-du-Rhône.
Floating turbines are seen as promising as they can be used even in deep areas. France’s first full sea turbine wind farm was opened off Saint-Nazaire, Loire-Atlantique, last year.
Around 15 others are in planning or construction.
Read more: President Macron opens France’s first offshore wind farm
Recycled waste water
Sables-d’Olonne in Vendée will complete construction of Europe’s first system to recycle used, then cleaned, waste water back into the drinking supply.
2023 will see the start of the testing stage for this.
Read more: French town to become first in Europe to recycle used water
Green police
France is to train new ‘green gendarmes’ to fight environmental crime such as wildfire arson, with a first team to be deployed this year.
In total, 200 brigades are planned over six years.
Climate change impact on Paris
Paris will publish findings of a ‘Paris at 50C’ study, in March. It is looking at how the city will cope in future if climate change worsens.
Businesses must recycle
From January 1, businesses are banned from disposing of unsold items (this previously only applied to limited categories of goods).
Items should instead be recycled or given to charity.
Champagne wrap
Some champagne brands are to start replacing bottles’ foil coiffe caps with a more eco-friendly paper wrap.
Till receipts
From April 1, shops will no longer give till receipts unless you ask for one, apart from for certain costly pieces of equipment. Digital alternatives will be available.
Read more: How do we prove purchases if till receipts are disappearing in France?
Fast-food boxes
Fast-food outlets are being told to replace disposable boxes with containers that can be reused.
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