French regulations provide for a certain number of precautions to be taken to ensure good waste management, while protecting the environment and human health. The term “waste management” generally encompasses any activity involved in organizing the management of waste from its production to its final treatment.
Waste management is governed by rules described in the environmental code, and each actor is subject to several obligations.
French legislation/regulations incorporate European guidelines. The LTECV of August 2015 defines quantified objectives, including a 50% reduction in stored waste by 2025.
French and European regulations, considering that the responsibility of the waste producer begins before the waste is produced, have established the regime of extended producer responsibility.
Principle of producer or holder responsibility
Any producer or holder of waste is required to manage it or have it managed, in accordance with the regulations. He is responsible until their elimination or final recovery, even when the waste is transferred for processing to a third party (article L541-2).
The extended producer responsibility (or REP) system
Provisions of article L541-10 CE : “In application of the principle of extended producer responsibility, producers, importers and distributors of these products or of these elements and materials used in their manufacture may be required to provide or contribute to the management of the waste resulting from them. »
Polluter pays principle
The costs of waste management are borne by the original waste producer or by the current or previous holder of the waste.
(Source ADEME)
Since July 2016, professionals have the obligation to sort 5 types of waste: paper/cardboard, metal, plastic, glass, wood in dedicated bins. This is sorting 5 waste streams. This obligation now concerns mineral fraction waste and plaster waste in application of the decree of July 19, 2021.
