The French have made progress in 2022 in sorting their household packaging waste in yellow bins, but performance remains very uneven depending on the region. These, to summarize, are the conclusions of the Citeo organization which coordinates the collection and sorting of household packaging waste, which has made public its results for 2022.
In detail, we learn that the French sorted on average 72 kg of household packaging and paper per inhabitant, in 2022, an average increase of three kilos compared to 2021. This increase is explained by the gradual generalization of the simplification of the “sorting gesture” in France carried out in communities over the years.
By region, Brittany best sorted its household packaging waste last year, with 106 kg per inhabitant, followed by Pays-de-la-Loire with 98 kg. At the bottom of the pack are Ile-de-France, with 45.5 kg, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur with 57 kg. Overseas, the performance was 37 kg in Reunion, 24 kg in Martinique, 18 kg in Guyana and 16.5 kg in Guadeloupe.
Plastic and cardboard are progressing
By material, the sorting of plastic packaging increased by 7% nationally, that of paper and cardboard packaging by 16%. Sorting of glass packaging remained stable (+1%), due to a sorting process that is already well established thanks to separate collection that has existed for a long time.
The sorting of steel packaging (mainly cans) and aluminum packaging (cans, medicine packaging, coffee pods) also remained stable, at 1.7 kg and 0.3 kg per inhabitant respectively.
As a reminder, since January 1, 2023, all household packaging, whether paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, steel or aluminum, must be placed in yellow bins, as well as so-called graphic papers, i.e. i.e. newspapers, magazines or printing papers. On the other hand, textiles or household appliances no longer have their place there and must be deposited in recycling centers or dedicated collection centers.