• In the Dordogne, a system of incentive pricing and voluntary contributions of waste in terminals that open by badges has been deployed since 2016.
  • The union in charge of this waste management, the SMD3, observes that in the sectors concerned the volume of household waste is decreasing and that of recyclable waste is increasing.
  • Some individuals with incompressible waste are opposed to this device and regret the wheeled bins near their home. Tourism professionals (campsites, restaurants and hotels) welcome the measure, while waiting for some adjustments.

No more garbage collectors' truck that comes in the early morning to pick up the garbage deposited in the wheeled bins. In the Dordogne, a new waste management system has been gradually implemented since 2016. "For a two-person household, for example, there are 26 openings of sixty liters authorized year-round," explains Florence Moreau, general secretary of SMD3, the union in charge of waste management in the department. Beyond this volume, the deposit is charged 5.22 euros".

Residents unlock the terminal with a badge that entitles them to limited openings while recycling bins for glass and packaging remain freely accessible. The objective is to halve (between 2010 and 2025) the volume of waste produced by residents in this department where landfill is expensive, in accordance with the Energy Transition Act of 2016.

The SMD3 explains that in a bag of household waste, there is on average two-thirds of the waste that could be elsewhere (compostable or recyclable), which is in line with the average observed at the national level.

Some very dissatisfied individuals

Some like Florence Poumarede, host family for three disabled elderly people and founder of the association of dissatisfied waste collection in Dordogne do not find themselves there and deposit their garbage at the foot of the terminals. "I gave my card back. In fifteen days I reached my quota and for everything else, it would be openings at 5.20 euros, "she justifies, pointing out that there are 200 host families like her in Dordogne. On these cases, the SMD3 responds that it "continues to work with deputies and senators on additional openings," says Isabelle Moreau. It is envisaged, for example, that unused packages can be put in a database next year."

Until now, the household waste collection tax (TOM) was based on built land, i.e. a single person in a large house producing little waste could pay a fairly high tax. With this new system, for all waste management, the annual average per household is 245 euros on average. "Depending on the number of people, we pay the same amount no matter where we are," says Isabelle Moreau. Some for whom it will be more expensive express themselves but there are also those for whom it decreases. "



With its 12,000 members and some 1,000 members, the association deplores that some, in the countryside, "tend towards zero waste" but are not encouraged because they have to pay a subscription, whatever happens. "We don't just want to growl, but we don't want to be penalized," concludes Florence Poumarede. Glass and cardboard in voluntary contributions is very good but it is necessary to put the door to door for household waste with a return of wheeled bins and not more than 200 to 300 meters from the houses. »

Reduced volumes of waste collected

In some territories such as Belvès, touristic, and Montpon, rather rural, a numerical comparison was made by the SMD3 between July 2020 and January 2022 and it is eloquent. During this period, in Belvès, the volume of household waste per capita per year fell from 264 kg per capita to 158 kg. "We take into account the deposits at the foot of terminals, says Isabelle Moreau, anticipating a criticism of the association. We also include the production of waste by tourists. »

In the rural area of Montpon, the volume of household waste has increased from 180 kg per capita per year in 2019 to 114 kg at the end of 2022. At the same time, the SMD3 puts forward a virtuous reflex to lighten its trash: the increase in sorting. Result: in the Belvès sector, the volume of sorted packaging and paper has increased from 51 kg to 80 kg SMD 3 notes that 5 to 8% of household waste collected is at the foot of terminals, a figure in line with the national average. It has no visibility on "wild" deposits in nature.

Campsites, hotels and restaurants rather favorable

With four million overnight stays, the 200 campsites in the Dordogne are the leading accommodation providers in this tourist department and major waste producers. "The increase in cost is more pronounced for small motorhomes there is a threshold effect when it is necessary to rent containers, whereas before it was quite artisanal," points out Stéphane Mottier, president of the union of campsites of the Dordogne. Some are thinking about a small participation required of campers to help them cope.

If the professionals could turn to the private Suez, they found satisfactory support from the public union, such as rigid bags for sorting according to the number of locations, collective composters and communication assistance.

"There are many restaurateurs in town who will not be able to make compost for lack of space and it will be put in the black bag, so it will generate a lot of royalties, it is a real problem between those who are in town and in the countryside," points out Jean-Luc Bousquet, president of the union of trades and industries of the hotel and restaurant industry of Dordogne. For example, collective composting solutions are being studied.

Starting this summer, a mobile application will allow motorhome owners, for example, to open terminals and pay with a smartphone. It will first be a solution for non-residents before being extended to the Périgourdins. The effects of this new, rather radical waste policy should be closely monitored by the other departments and intercommunalities.

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