Biowaste sorting: soon everyone will be affected

From January 1, 2024, source separation of biowaste will be mandatory for everyone: households, businesses, and local authorities. This is a key step to reduce waste and promote composting and anaerobic digestion.

Marie Faucon
Consultante HSE
Publication : 
05.05.2021
Table of Contents
Example H2
Request a demo

Please note: This article concerns French legislation. The requirements described may not apply in other countries.

‍

Source separation of biowaste will be mandatory for everyone in Europe from 2024, as stipulated by the European Waste Directive.

In France, this obligation previously only applied to large producers. However, the anti-waste law, by transposing the directive, extends it to all producers.

The objectives of this mandatory source separation and recovery of biowaste are to increase the recycling of organic waste and reduce the quantities sent to landfill or incineration.

What is biowaste?

These are

  • non-hazardous biodegradable garden or park waste,
  • food and kitchen waste from households, offices, restaurants, wholesale businesses, canteens, caterers, or retail stores,
  • as well as comparable waste from food processing plants.

Example: food waste (banana peels, etc.) from break rooms or canteens, green waste.

What are the obligations?

Since 2012, individuals or entities producing or holding a significant amount of biowaste (landscaping companies, large retailers, agri-food industries, canteens, etc.) have been required to sort this biowaste for recycling.

Since January 1, 2016, this applies to professionals who produce more than 10 tonnes/year of biowaste or 60 litres/year of oils.

As of December 31, 2023, this obligation will be extended to all producers and holders of biowaste (regardless of quantity).

Possible treatments?

The two main methods for treating biowaste are:

Note: Waste-to-energy operations, those related to converting waste into fuel, and landfilling operations cannot be classified as recycling operations.

Thus, waste recovery can be carried out directly by the producer or holder (e.g., on-site composting) or entrusted to a third party, after separate collection when recovery is not performed at the production site.

Conclusion

France's objectives include increasing the quantity of waste recovered as material, particularly organic waste. It aims to direct 55% in 2020 and 65% in 2025, respectively, of non-hazardous non-inert waste, measured by mass, towards these recovery channels.

Thus, this regulatory change is part of France's national waste prevention and management policy.

Another objective is the end of single-use plastic by 2040.

‍

‍

Photo credit: Joshua Hoehne