Recycling is one of the most powerful ways to reduce waste. Did you know that six milk cartons when recycled can make a roll of toilet paper, six transparent plastic bottles can be made into a T-shirt and a saucepan can be made of only eight tins of canned food?
France is very serious about its recycling and does its best to make it easy for its citizens. In France, you are expected to recycle glass, paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, and tins amongst other things. You can easily recycle these in the bin your local council gives you and you also don't even have to rinse out glass jars or plastic bottles- that's done later in the recycling centre.
To work out if an item can be recycled you must look out for the mobius loop symbol, the triangular ring made from three arrows means an item is completely recyclable. Also, look out for a number on the bottom of plastic bottles between one and seven. The number is usually between three arrows and number 1,2 and 5 mean the item can be recycled but numbers 3, 4, 6 mean they usually can't. A 7 definitely can't be recycled.
France is a world leader for recycling paper, recycling 60% of all paper used. You can throw paper with staples into your recycling bin but not used napkins or kitchen towels, these can be put into a compost bin.
But what about the rarer items?
France also has a new "circular economy law" which means that you can return a used household appliance to the distributor or the seller when you buy a new equivalent of the same item. The shop is required by law to take your old item and dispose of it by recycling it. This is also valid for online purchases.
Meanwhile, garages are required by law to take tyres back free of charge if you want to dispose of them.
Batteries can be recycled at any supermarket since in France all shops that sell batteries must take them back free of charge and send them off to recycling plants.
Mobile phones can sometimes be taken to recycling bins in supermarkets or recycling centres. You can even send your old phone to a non-government organisation which recycles older devices, such as “jedonnemontelephone.fr”.
As for clothes, you can consider donating these to charities such as Emmaus, but they must be dry, clean and shoes must be in pairs. Emmaus also takes used and donated household appliances, furniture, clothes, toys, books etc. There are Emmaus stores in Toulouse here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gbQe33zf3v7hKEqB6 and here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/d6vcvgeyubHNEQKY9 .
If you need to dispose of large appliances such as washing machines, fridges and freezers, it’s better to contact your mairie to find out where to bring these goods. These must be taken to the local "déchetterie". It's easy to find out where your local one is -just go on your mairie's website.
On a final note, never be tempted to dump cumbersome goods on the side of the road because this can get you a fine of up to 1500 euros and even the confiscation of the vehicle you used to transport your item that you dumped!
All in all, France is a leading country in recycling, and it really doesn't take much effort to do your bit and get used to the process. So think twice before you throw anything in the main bin, and always consider whether you can actually give it another life.
Bibliography:
To make it even easier, in Toulouse, since January 1st 2023, all wrappings can be thrown away in the (yellow or blue) recycling bin! You no longer have to look for the recycling symbol. https://metropole.toulouse.fr/actualites/en-janvier-tous-les-emballages-se-trient