Recycling bio-waste

At the same time, to simplify waste processing and discourage illegal dumping – a malicious act with disastrous consequences for the environment and ecosystems – old tires can now be dropped off free of charge at garages, with no obligation to buy them. Similarly, waste from the construction or renovation of buildings can be sorted in building materials stores over 4,000m2.

In the food sector, a significant advance has been made: unsold products can no longer be destroyed, but must be recycled or donated.

However, the major revolution concerns the management of biowaste for households and local authorities. Since January 1, local authorities have been obliged to provide biowaste sorting solutions at source for private individuals, whether through organized door-to-door collection or the installation of dedicated bins in towns and villages.

As part of the law on the fight against waste and the circular economy, these positive changes should enable around 40% of the French population, or 27 million people, to benefit from sorting solutions for biowaste within the year.

All you need to do to install a composter at home is choose a shady, well-ventilated spot. Compostable waste, such as fruit and vegetable peelings, non-meat meal leftovers and dead leaves, can be deposited in the composter. The process, if properly balanced between nitrogen-rich “green” matter and carbon-rich “brown” matter, results in rich compost, ready to nourish plants and enrich your vegetable garden.

A henhouse at home:
Introducing chickens into the home is an ingenious approach to biowaste management. A hen eats 150 grams of kitchen waste a day. These farmyard animals feed on a variety of food scraps, such as fruit and vegetable peelings, meal leftovers, and even uneaten small grains. Egg and oyster shells are also excellent for chickens. The icing on the cake: your hen will give you delicious, fresh eggs.

Vermicomposter in the Urban Environment:
For apartment-dwellers, the vermicomposter represents a practical and ecological solution. Despite its bad reputation, this compact tool effectively transforms organic waste into quality compost, perfectly suited to the limited space available in city dwellings. By installing a vermicomposter, food residues such as fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds and small green waste can be recycled without emitting unpleasant odours. Compost worms, the main players in the process, break down organic matter to produce a high-quality natural fertilizer. In addition to reducing waste, the vermicomposter makes an effective contribution to the responsible management of bio-waste in urban environments. The introduction of collective composting in apartment buildings will require the mobilization of building managers to bring about changes in installations and daily practices.

Despite these solutions, waste sorting is not yet a reflex for everyone, and a change in mentality is still needed to integrate these eco-responsible gestures into daily habits.