Since 1 January 2024, the obligation to sort biowaste at source applies in France to every business that produces it, whatever the volume. Restaurants, canteens, food shops, companies with a staff restaurant, healthcare facilities and local authorities: here is what the regulation says and how to get organised.
What the law says
The anti-waste and circular economy law (AGEC law) of 10 February 2020 extended sorting at source to all biowaste. The obligation is set out in article L541-21-1 of the French Environmental Code: biowaste must be sorted at source and then recovered (composting or anaerobic digestion), either on site or after separate collection.
For large producers, this is not new: since 2012 the obligation applied to sites producing more than 120 tonnes of biowaste a year, a threshold gradually lowered to 5 tonnes in 2023. Since 2024 there is no threshold at all.
Which waste is concerned?
Biowaste covers food and kitchen waste (leftover meals, peelings, expired food, coffee grounds…) as well as green waste from gardens and green spaces. Packaging is not biowaste: packaged food must be unpacked before collection.
Getting organised in 4 steps
- Estimate your output: volumes produced per day or week, and where they are produced (kitchen, dining room, storage).
- Choose suitable containers: dedicated bins that are easy to identify and clean, placed as close as possible to where waste is produced.
- Set a frequent enough collection: biowaste ferments quickly, so frequency must follow your output, especially in summer.
- Train your teams: posted instructions, awareness sessions and follow-up of sorting errors.
What about traceability?
As with your other waste, keep the collection and recovery records. They feed your waste register and serve as proof in the event of an inspection.
What SOVADIS offers
SOVADIS provides dedicated bins, collects your biowaste separately at a frequency suited to your output and sends it to a composting facility. You receive the corresponding traceability documents.
Sources
- French law no. 2020-105 of 10 February 2020 on the fight against waste and the circular economy (AGEC law)
- French Environmental Code, article L541-21-1