Waste

French AI system can see inside bin bags: what is it being used for?

The technology uses a camera to detect anomalies, and is already used by 45 communes

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

Schemes like ‘pay-per-bin’ do not encourage people to reduce general waste, say campaigners

Grass cuttings are no longer accepted at some public tips in France

Increasing numbers of public déchetteries are asking you to take care of your cuttings at home

French homeowners challenge ‘pay per bag’ waste charge

Residents are preparing a legal challenge to a new waste collection charge that, they say, penalises the elderly and people with disabilities

Waste collection tax rises: How is your area of France affected?

The average increase is 2.2%, but some towns are bringing in rises of more than 40%

All homes in France must have access to food waste bin from next year

Each person in France throws away around 30kg of food per year, including 7kg still in its packaging

France allows local authorities to use wastewater after record drought

The use of wastewater for civic tasks such as street cleaning or vehicle washing will save precious drinking water

Paris street cleaner is TikTok sensation with a serious message

We talk to the social media star about getting kicked out of the army, being homeless and his viral litter videos

How to get a déchetterie permit in France with a UK-registered car

We look at how second-homeowners can visit their local tip without a ‘carte grise’ for their vehicle - or a hire car

Maggots, protests: Dordogne reacts to ‘pay-as-you-throw’ waste system

Parts of south west France are under a new waste management regime allowing a fixed number of visits to collective bins per year, with charges for exceeding that limit

‘Free shops’ to be rolled out in France after successful trial

The zero-waste concept is said to be unique in France and run by a waste management union

French mayor collects fly-tipped waste and dumps it at culprits’ house

The mayor is latest of several to use radical measures to combat growing litter problems in their communes

Historic Dordogne streets too small for new card-swipe rubbish bins

‘Old town’ areas must pay more for door-to-door collection leading to claims of urban discrimination

What is the law on burning waste in my French garden?

We take a look at the specific rules on garden waste disposal in France

French home waste collection charge on rise - who pays this and how?

A survey of local councils found more than three-quarters of respondents were set to put their rates up this year, as rising fuel and energy prices affect services

‘New bins only make recycling in France more difficult’

The Connexion reader shares frustration at waste and recycling bins which are so impractical they may discourage not encourage recycling

French court orders €30m waste collection tax refund to residents

It means 147,000 households are to receive a refund of around €200 each

Innovative new waste capture device installed in Marseille’s Old Port

The system captures rubbish headed for the sea after rainfall and works with objects as small as cigarette butts. It can also measure water quality

Covid-19 France: Can I use bottle bank?

Am I allowed to offload all of my empty jars and bottles at the bottle bank?

‘Waste mafia’ boss jailed over mass illegal rubbish dumping in nature

Culprits charged low prices for professional construction waste removal - then dumped it illegally in nature. Some was even given to homes as free garden ‘topsoil’ with anyone who complained threatened

France lockdown: Are déchetteries still open?

Rubbish tips were for mainly closed at first during the first lockdown in Spring but not this time...

Home goods, clothes: How to find best places to recycle in France

New ecology ministry website lists sites as well as tips for repairing goods on but comes as new documentary questions whether the country’s recycling plants and tips work properly

Which fruit and veg cannot be sold under plastic in France from 2022?

The move is part of a plan by France to eliminate single use plastic by 2040. Currently 1.2 billion plastic containers are used annually for fruit and vegetables

French architect’s scheme saves building waste from skips

Nearly 75% of all waste comes from the construction industry, according to the government environment agency Ademe, a figure that architect Joanne Boachon is hoping to change

French town imposes minimum €1,000 fine for dog mess or littering

The mayor of Obernai said ‘enough is enough’ and introduced the minimum fine for anyone caught illegally dumping rubbish, especially dog mess. He has called on other mayors to do the same

Supermarkets in France start selling second-hand goods

Supermarkets and hypermarkets in France are to start selling second-hand items, with the Système U group starting last week with sites in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Pays de la Loire.

French motorways: 30% of public admit to littering on roads

A third of people in France admit to throwing waste out of car windows while on the motorway, says a new poll, as motorway firm Vinci Autoroutes launches an anti-littering campaign ahead of a busy driving weekend.

New app aims to fight illegal waste dumping in France

Residents in France are invited to download and use a new app that aims to combat fly tipping and the illegal dumping of waste in nature and beauty spots.

French cheese ‘fine to eat after best before date’

The makers of popular French soft cheese La Vache Qui Rit (The Laughing Cow) are aiming to tackle the problem of food waste by reminding consumers that their product may be fine to eat even after its “best before date” has passed.

French supermarket Leclerc criticised for plastic use

French supermarket giant Leclerc has been chastised for its excess use of plastic on a pack of hard-boiled eggs, with a junior minister saying that a new “anti-waste” law would stop such “aberrations” in future.

Waste collection tax in France: how does it work?

Can you tell us about the tax that is payable for the collection of household waste? Is it due if our bins are not actually emptied?

French company finds way of wasting less food

Waste not, want not is key to kitchen savings

France gets ‘illegal waste’ sent back from Malaysia

France is one of four developed nations set to have its allegedly illegal plastic waste “sent back” on some of the 150 shipping containers ordered by Malaysia this week.

French sell-by food app cuts costs

You can use free smartphone app Too Good To Go to save money on your shopping bill and fight food waste.

What is French éco-participation fee?

And how does it work?

Bordeaux drains painted in cigarette butt waste alert

A team of artists in Bordeaux is painting drain grates and manhole covers to raise awareness of how much dropped cigarette butts contribute to river pollution.

France to ban destroying unsold goods by end of 2023

France will ban firms from destroying unsold consumer goods by 2023.

Waste-free shopping a click away

Most of us would like to be more environmentally responsible but need it to be as easy as possible.

Restaurants ‘must offer doggy bags’

Restaurants, cafés and bistros across France will be obliged to supply diners with “doggy-bags” if requested from July 2021, under a new law to reduce food waste.

Water prices will rise to pay costs of repairing leaks

Water prices are set to rise after the government called on authorities to upgrade and repair networks as “one litre of water in five is lost to leaks”.

Government fights France’s growing fly-tipping problem

A government group has been created to tackle the growing issue of fly-tipping in France, which sees people dumping over 80,000 tonnes of excess waste into nature every year.

Paris pledges to halve landfill waste by 2030

Paris has joined 22 other cities and regions in pledging to reduce its waste by half by 2030, as part of a global project named “Coalition C40 Cities”.

Plastic waste dumped in shop protest

Throwaway coffee cups create business

Company has contracts with Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, SNCF, Michelin and others

Could you buy nothing ‘new’ for the whole of 2018?

An eco-friendly association is asking consumers to not buy anything newly-made in 2018, especially when it comes to clothes, books, furniture, white goods and electronics.

Consumers warned as French food waste hits 10m tonnes

France throws away 10 million tonnes of food every year, with each French person throwing out the equivalent of one entire meal per week, a new report has warned.