France faces challenges in packaging reuse and street waste recycling

Waste management and packaging reuse initiatives in France are facing logistical and participation challenges. The ReUse project, led by eco-organizations Citeo and Adelphe, is currently testing a national deposit system for reusable food packaging in several French regions, including Normandy and Brittany. However, the deployment has been scaled back from an initial goal of 1,000 stores to 367 participating locations across retailers such as Carrefour, Leclerc, Intermarché, Coopérative U, and Monoprix.

The environmental association Zero Waste has criticized the rollout, describing it as a “faux départ” (false start) due to inconsistent engagement from brands and retailers. While the system allows consumers to return glass packaging for a deposit of €0.10 to €0.20, critics argue that government intervention is necessary to meet the 2040 goal of eliminating single-use plastic packaging.

Additionally, street bin recycling remains inefficient. Although many municipalities have introduced bins for sorting paper and packaging, the contents are rarely sent for recycling due to fragmented competencies and lack of financial incentives. Citeo aims to capture 22,500 tonnes of recyclable material from street bins out of a potential 300,000 tonnes.