One was fixed to the ground at the entrance to a residence, two others near the bus stop, another three at the end of the street… For several weeks, residents of the Doulon-Bottière district in Nantes have seen growth hundreds of new trash cans on the sidewalks. “Ah, that’s everywhere,” confirms Laurianne, who counted no less than eight on the short journey home. Considering how massive they are, you can’t miss them. But at least there is enough to hold some peelings! »
While the law requires communities to provide a bio-waste sorting solution to their residents from January 1, 2024, things are changing in certain large cities. In Nantes and in several metropolises, rather ahead of the question and therefore particularly observed, it is the solution of “voluntary drop-off points” which was chosen for the different districts, outside the city center.
By spring 2024, nearly 2,500 white and brown pedal bins will be deployed in the four corners of the City of Dukes to receive food leftovers from residents, who produce 45 kg per year. “It’s not very beautiful, but it could be interesting,” judges a resident who comes across rue du Croissant. As with everything, we’ll get used to it! » In Lyon, the movement is the same: the thousandth terminal has just been inauguratedwith a goal of quickly doubling.
One collector for 50 homes
In testing for several years in Nantes North, the system has already proven itself. According to Mahel Coppey, vice-president in charge of waste in Nantes Métropole, four tonnes are already collected each week in this district then sent to a composting platform in Vallet, in the Nantes vineyards. And sorting errors would be minimal (around 5%), hence the desire to generalize the service, and to further strengthen the network, even if it may seem excessive.
“We started at a point of supply for 65 households, but for a real useful and local service, we moved to a point for 50,” we explain in Nantes metropolis. The signage is deliberately marked so that they are noticed, so that residents can take advantage of this new gesture. The locations were chosen for their visibility while meeting fairly strict installation rules, so as not to obstruct pedestrian traffic, for example. » For comparison, in the metropolis of Strasbourg, 1,800 collectors will be installed by 2025, at a rate of one for around 300 inhabitants.
To help convert the people of Nantes, airtight buckets accompanied by a short guide are being distributed (or available in the local town halls concerned) by agents, which will allow you to store your peelings at home before throwing them all away. ‘a blow. The community also wants to reassure about the “anti-pest system” installed at the bottom of the skips, which will be emptied once a week and “cleaned regularly”, particularly in summer.
Throughout the metropolis, food waste represents a potential source of 29,000 tonnes per year. The cost of collecting this bio-waste (calculated using the experiment carried out in Nantes-Nord) is 11 euros per year and per inhabitant.