France recycling guidelines for egg cartons

In France, egg cartons can be processed through either recycling or composting, depending on their material and condition. According to the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), the national simplification of sorting rules allows nearly 98% of French citizens to place all packaging, including cardboard egg cartons, into the yellow recycling bin.

Cardboard cartons are made from recycled paper fibers and serve as a carbon-rich “brown matter” in composting, which helps aerate piles and absorb moisture. However, for composting to be effective, the cardboard must be untreated and non-plasticized. If the cartons are made of transparent plastic, they must be disposed of in the yellow recycling bin for packaging rather than being composted.