Sorting bio-waste: an obligation for all businesses

Since January 1st, all businesses have been required to sort their biowaste at source. Provided for by the law of February 10, 2020, on the fight against waste and the circular economy, this obligation was previously imposed only on those producing more than 5 tons of bio-waste per year. Now, even private individuals are also subject to this obligation.

Note: Bio-waste is food or kitchen waste from households, restaurants, canteens, caterers, wholesalers, retail outlets and offices, as well as “green waste” from park and garden maintenance (leaves, grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, etc.).

In practical terms, businesses are now required to put in place solutions to separate their bio-waste from other waste. This bio-waste can then be recycled, either through composting or separate collection, to make compost or biogas through methanation.

Composting, which, as the name suggests, turns bio-waste into compost, can be done within the company provided that the company has outdoor space to install a bin or a shelter for this purpose and that the volume of bio-waste to be processed is not too big.

The separate collection involves putting bio-waste in a dedicated bin, either the company’s own or shared with others, which will be collected regularly either by the local authority, if it provides this service to businesses, or by a service provider.

Beware: Businesses that fail to comply with the obligation to sort their bio-waste are liable to a fine of up to €750 for a sole proprietorship and up to €3,750 for a company (this corresponds to the category 4 offences of the Penal Code). The competent authorities are likely to organize inspections to ensure that sorting bio-waste at source is being properly applied.