How does recycling work in France?

1.

How
does
recycling
work in
France?

2.

· The local Communautés des
Communes or the Services
Municipaux are in charge of
recycling and household
waste.
· Access to facilities for waste
recycling is variable around
the country.
· Blocks of flats will have a
room with bins, one for general
waste and one for recycling.
· Private homes will be
provided with separate bins.

3.

There are many
standardised features
to waste disposal and
recycling in France,
from the symbols used
on packaging to the
colours used for bins.

4.

Using your recycling
bin at home
· RESIDENTS ARE SUPPLIED WITH AT LEAST ONE
BIN FOR RECYCLING
· COUNCILS PROVIDE ROBUST, REUSABLE BAGS
· SEPARATE BINS FOR GLASS ARE USUALLY GREEN,
BLUE BINS ARE FOR CARDBOARD AND PAPER ONLY,
ORDINARY BINS FOR NON-RECYCLABLE WASTE ARE
USUALLY GREY

5.

What can I put in my
yellow recycling bin in
France?
All packaging made from paper,
cardboard, steel, aluminium, including
items like processed food trays, lids,
milk or juice cartons, cans and aerosols
Plastic bottles, eg. for drinks or
shampoo
Pizza or cereal boxes
Egg boxes
Books, magazines and paper of all
kinds
Aluminium foil and coffee capsules
Medicine packaging (but not leftover
medicine)

6.

What am I not allowed to put in
my yellow bin?
OBJECTS MADE FROM GLASS (SUCH AS A
BROKEN MIRROR, OR GLASS PLATE)
LARGE CARDBOARD BOXES THAT TAKE UP
TOO MUCH SPACE (UNLESS YOU TEAR THEM
UP)
GARDEN WASTE
ELECTRONICS
DANGEROUS OR TOXIC ITEMS

7.

Understand recycling
labels on French products
· THE SYMBOL OF LE POINT VERT DOES NOT
INDICATE SOMETHING IS RECYCLABLE, BUT THAT
THE MAKER HAS CERTAIN ECO-FRIENDLY POLICIES.
· ‘LE TRIMAN’ FIGURE WITH THREE ARROWS IS THE
MAIN LOGO INDICATING THAT A PRODUCT IS
SUITABLE FOR RECYCLING.
· A GREEN SYMBOL OF THREE ARROWS IN A CIRCLE
IS ANOTHER LOGO MEANING THE SAME.
· A CROSSED BIN MEANS AN ITEM SHOULD NOT BE
THROWN IN THE BIN BUT TAKEN TO A SPECIALISED
CONTAINER AT THE TIP.

8.

ECO-EATING
Today there are numerous organic food
shops as well as dedicated organic food
aisles in French supermarkets.
Every village still has a local butcher , one if
not two local boulangeries baking fresh
bread every day, and the weekly market
where stallholders sell fresh local produce
and cheese. Most of the wine sold across
the country comes from French vineyards.
France became the first country to ban its
supermarkets from throwing away or
destroying good quality unsold food.

9.

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!