Comment: France's recycling rules are impossible

I am being told off by the local authorities for not sorting my rubbish properly, and I have to admit they have a point. But only slightly. 

I accept that having received a free composting bin, I ought to use it and I do, except when it is raining and I realise that the prawn shells are making the kitchen stink. 

The bin is far closer than the composter. So they win that point.

Also, I am exemplary when it comes to glass. I have been separating and recycling it practically all my life, and would be the first to lobby for the return of the old refillable litre-sized wine bottles with the stars round the neck. So they cannot fault me there. Paper is cool too.

But the stupid containers have me spitting under my breath. No, I don't want to kill dolphins, and I do always cut through the loops in the plastic that holds four tomato paste tins together. I even tie knots in plastic bags so they cannot suffocate a squirrel.

However, they keep changing the rules about what counts as card and what counts as plastic, and what can go in the green and blue bins. 

Read more:  French households throw out more rubbish despite ‘incentive’ bin fees

Driving a diesel to the eco point?

I mean when I am cooking, let's be realistic. I am not seriously going to Google every single bit of packaging. So I tend to chuck it all in the same bin, and that is the largest one. But they do not collect it any more!

You have to take the blue/green contents to the eco point, which is a drive away. A drive! In my car! Yes, my sweaty old diesel banger has to be cranked up in order to take the bins out. Not really ecological, is it?

And once I get there, can I just fling the rubbish in the bin? Nope. It all has to be removed from the bin liner and posted, bit by tiny bit, into a hole the size of a fox's head. 

The used sellotape, the tins, the cellophane, the whole lot has to be unpacked. 

Read more: Is home composting now mandatory in France?

Rubbish rules

It is truly disgusting. I don't wash my rubbish before binning it – are we supposed to? – so there are odd peas and drips of soup in there. Ugh. It is a stinky and time-consuming job and I really hate it. 

Also, I don't get money off my local rates for doing this. I mean, they are not collecting much of our rubbish any more, but we never got a rebate. We are still paying the same.

So last week when I had a filthy cold, I gave into temptation and dumped my rubbish in the bin for the bin men to take away. Hooray. What luxury. Just grab the bag, stick in the bin and bye-bye forever. 

Except now I have this letter, moaning about people not sorting their refuse properly.

Still, it's a general letter to everyone in the village. I dare say they don't know it is actually me. Fingers crossed they don't because if it snows, I will probably give into bin temptation again...

How do you feel about France's recycling rules? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com