In the face of environmental urgency, waste reduction has become a major issue. Adopted in 2020, the AGEC law (Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy) aims to transform our consumption and production model by tackling the issue of waste throughout its life cycle.
Key levers for action include sorting wasteparticularly bio-waste, occupies a central role. Organic waste, which accounts for around 30% of our household waste, is a major source of pollution if not properly recycled.
This is why a new regulation on source separation of biowaste biowaste came into force on January 1, 2024. And it applies to individuals, businesses and local authorities alike.
In this article, we explain everything: issues, obligations, solutions.
What is source separation of biowaste?
Biowaste? What is it?
We call biowaste is any waste of organic origin, i.e. from living organisms. There are two categories of biowaste:
- Food biowaste : fruit and vegetable peelings, meal leftovers, meat and fish, dairy products, etc.
- Plant bio-waste: lawn clippings, dead leaves, hedge trimmings, etc.
Why is it essential to sort your biowaste?
Just like plastic, glass and cardboard, biowaste needs to be properly treated to limit its impact on the environment.
Sorting biowaste at source offers a number of advantages:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions Unsorted biowaste decomposes into methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than CO2.
- Compost production Bio-waste can be transformed into compost, a natural soil improver rich in nutrients.
- Protecting natural resources Composting reduces the use of chemical fertilizers and waste incineration.
Lower waste treatment costs Sorting at source reduces the volume of household waste, and therefore treatment costs.
What will the new 2024 regulations change?
In France, biowaste accounts for around 30% of household waste. In 2023, the sorting of biowaste was not compulsory for everyone, even though many communes, businesses and households had already set up separate collection systems. Since January 1, 2024, regulations on this subject have changed.
New obligations for private individuals and professionals
From now on, all professionals, whatever their size or activity, must sort their biowaste. biowaste. They must set up a separate collection system available to all employees, in order to recover it by composting or methanization. If they are unable to compost or methanize the waste themselves, they must call on external service providers to take care of the end-of-life management of this type of waste.
Municipalities, for their part, must now offer residents a solution for sorting and collecting biowaste. This can take the form of specific bins, voluntary drop-off points or shared composters.
Failure to sort biowaste is punishable by a fine of 35 euros. However, it is important to note that this fine is not yet systematically applied. In fact, businesses and local authorities have until December 31, 2024 to set up sorting and collection solutions. collection solutions.
How do you prepare for the new regulations?
Needs assessment
The first step is to assess the need for sorting bio-waste. biowaste. This involves estimating the quantity and type of biowaste produced on a daily or weekly basis. It's also important to determine the space available to install sorting bins and/or a composter, and to define the budget that can be allocated to this approach.
Choice of sorting solution
Several sorting solutions exist, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The choice will depend on the needs and preferences of each entity.
- Collection by an external service provider Specialized companies can collect biowaste and recycle it by composting or anaerobic digestion. This solution is practical and requires no initial investment, but can prove costly in the long term.
- On-site composting On-site composting: if you have the space, on-site composting is an ecological and economical solution. It transforms biowaste into a natural soil improver.
- Other solutions: alternative solutions exist, such as shredding green waste or donating it to animals.
User awareness and training
The success of biowaste sorting depends on the active participation of all users. It is therefore important to make company employees and/or local residents aware of the importance of this approach, and to provide them with clear, easy-to-understand sorting instructions.
So you see, sorting wasteincluding biowasteis no longer an option. Implementing a biowaste sorting solution tailored to your needs is an essential step in helping to protect the environment. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can choose the most appropriate solution for your situation and guarantee its success. To take your company's or local authority's waste sorting process even further, Keenat offers collection solutions for 3 other types of waste: cigarette butts, single-use masks and chewing gum.