Environmental protection is a major concern for society, and waste management plays an essential role in this effort. To address this issue, France has decided to implement a mandatory composting law that will take effect on January 1, 2024 . After this date, all households must have a solution for sorting their biodegradable waste. This is also a significant challenge for local authorities, which will need to equip their neighborhoods with sorting facilities.
The Current State of Organic Waste Management
These organic wastes consist of peels, food leftovers, and green waste from gardening. It is estimated that in France, each inhabitant discards an average of 85 kilograms of organic waste per year . According to Zero Waste France , this represents one-third of our “gray” trash bins. This is a significant quantity, especially considering that these organic wastes do not need to be incinerated to disappear and are very useful for nourishing the soil. However, when mixed with the rest of our trash, these “good” waste for the planet becomes harmful. In response to this alarming situation, the 2024 composting law offers a more sustainable alternative to households that previously had no composting solution. It’s worth noting that within these 85 kilograms per year per inhabitant, 29 kilograms consist of food waste, which is an alarming figure that concerns us all!
The 2024 Composting Law and Its Implications
To encourage composting and promote more responsible management of organic waste, European regulations and the 2020 anti-waste law, which stems from it, make it mandatory to separately manage organic waste by January 1, 2024. Starting from this date, it will be mandatory for professionals and households to source-separate all the organic waste they produce. Each household will need to have a composter or have access to a collective composting solution . Companies, restaurants, food businesses, and market vendors will also be subject to stricter rules regarding their waste sorting and recycling. This reform marks a major turning point in waste management in France and presents an opportunity for everyone to actively engage in environmental preservation. Moreover, a study conducted by ADEME has shown that sorting organic waste also tends to have a positive ripple effect by improving the sorting of recyclable waste. It’s a virtuous circle!
Daily Composting Habits
Despite its many benefits, composting is still not widespread enough in France. Barriers to composting often stem from a lack of information, misconceptions about potential nuisances, and, most importantly, a lack of accessible solutions for everyone. However, according to a survey by Le Parisien newspaper , 7 out of 10 French people want to compost! Composting offers multiple environmental benefits, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions from incineration and preserving natural resources. By adopting composting in their daily lives, individuals can contribute to the protection of our planet!
ICAG Composters: A Practical and Eco-Friendly Solution
To facilitate home composting, practical and effective solutions have been developed, such as composters from our company, ICAG . Available in 450L or 190L sizes to suit your needs, our composters are made from sustainably managed wood from France . Their truncated pyramid shape allows waste to descend as it matures. They feature an upper opening for easy filling and a bottom trap with retaining hooks for compost retrieval. The wooden planks of the composter are assembled disjointedly to allow for aeration of the compost. We have chosen very sturdy woods such as chestnut, larch, or red Douglas fir for unparalleled longevity.
