Incentive fee: a positive assessment but a sorting quality that still leaves something to be desired in the Gard rhodanien

If yellow and black bags continue to be deposited at the foot of voluntary recycling columns (illegally), the quantity is lower than at the beginning of 2024. Midi Libre – C. L.

Packaging sorting has increased by 23% in one year and by 85% since 2021 in the Gard rhodanien. The quantity of household waste collected has decreased by 19% in one year and by 50% since 2021. On the other hand, despite the measures taken by town halls, incivility persists.

It has been a year since the incentive fee came into force in the 44 municipalities of the Gard Rhodanien conurbation, after a test year in 2023. The implementation of this system has been and remains complicated for the Agglo and the mayors who must educate the residents. For the inhabitants of the territory, the management of these new rules is systematically described as disastrous, particularly in the city centers of Bagnols-sur-Cèze and Pont-Saint-Esprit. The two municipalities and their inhabitants were not ready for such a change: the system was generalized while many collective housing units were still not equipped with closed cubicles. As a result, the trash cans intended for residences were overflowing because passers-by threw their bags without needing to use a badge. “There was a delay before the social landlords put things in place, concedes Gérald Missour, vice-president of the Agglo, delegate for waste collection and the territorial project. Little by little, we are seeing improvements. Any territory that sets up incentive pricing goes through these moments that are not pleasant.”

488 fines for incivility in Bagnols

And it is true that for several months, the number of yellow and black bags illegally deposited next to the voluntary contributions has decreased. “There was also the work of the municipalities which was to issue fines. We regret it, except that at some point, we communicate, we explain, it's hard to do more.”Between October 13, 2023 and December 31, 2024, 488 fines were issued in Bagnols-sur-Cèze for illegal dumping thanks to mobile cameras and on-site checks. Last year, from March to December, the City and the service provider Nicollin collected 547 tons of fly-tipping.

“The city hall does what it can, it's not 100% its fault, qualifies Christophe Prévost, manager of the Crêperie de la place. Before the incentive fee [RI], everything was going well. Now, it's a mess, it's dirty, there's a problem. But it's the people of Bagnols who make life in Bagnols. They need to be more respectful of the rules.”

A 23% increase for sorting waste packaging

For the year 2024, 10,800 tonnes of household waste were collected in the Agglo territory, i.e. 19% less than in 2023 and almost 50% less than in 2021, “reference year because no communication on the RI had yet been carried out”. The production of household waste per year and per inhabitant has gone from 273 to 145 kg in one year. The sorting of packaging has increased by 23% since 2023 and by 85% since 2021. “The figures are very positive, underlines Gérald Missour. That is the desired goal: to recover more recyclable material.” Thanks to these results, the household waste collected is “treated locally, mainly in landfill in Bellegarde”. Despite these “good results”, the quality of the sorting “leaves something to be desired”. “There are people of good faith who think they are sorting well but who unfortunately are wrong.”For example, you should not nest your packaging inside each other in the yellow bag. If this is the case, this requires the intervention of a person at the sorting platform. Poor sorting quality can then quickly increase the bill.

“How is this fee an incentive?”

For some residents, the pricing of this system is not suitable. “I compost my biowaste, I have a reasonable consumption pattern, so I only used three collections in 2024, says Monique. I pay the same price as for 15 collections [i.e. the number of collections granted in the packages for households with an individual bin]. How is this fee an incentive?” Response from the Agglo:“We think in terms of packages. There are areas that have implemented a weight-based system and incivility has exploded. A system adapted to each individual or business does not exist. We have chosen the system that allows for the most fairness, and that meets four legislations.” As a result, sorting better and moving towards zero waste to use as few collections as possible costs the same as using the number of collections included in the package. Gérald Missour insists: “Maybe at first, the communication was misunderstood, but this pricing is not just for household waste and yellow bags. I also pay for recycling centers, green bins, paper, textiles…”

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The Agglo assures that if the territory had not switched to this system, the household waste collection tax would have exploded by 30% in 2024, as is the case in other territories. In the Gard rhodanien, a reduction in the price scale is not on the agenda. Residents will pay the same price in 2025. On the other hand, Gérald Missour warns: “If there is still too much incivility or poor sorting, costs could increase.” On the quality of sorting, the agglomeration will set up a communication campaign to present the right actions to adopt. To combat incivility, yellow bags will be identifiable in the coming months.

What about associations ?

The associations of Bagnols have also had to ask themselves the question of the management of their trash with the disappearance of neighborhood containers. “Each municipality is free to manage as it wishes with the associations”, says Gérald Missour. Some, housed in premises cleaned by municipal services, do not manage their waste. This is particularly the case for the League against cancer, which has been set up for several months in the former tourist office. Others, such as the RCBM, have received a bill for the end of 2024. “It's a flat rate, unlike individuals who pay based on the lifts, indicate the leaders of the rugby club. We have a lot of waste between matches, events and training, the flat rate is more suitable for us. But it is a cost that must now be included in the budget for the year. Before, we didn't have taxes."

A bill that increases when associations organize dance galas, shows or bodegas that do not take place at the multicultural hall. They must rent containers from the agglomeration for the day. Some cheat and go directly through the Nicollin service provider to pay less…

From one trash can to another…

Restaurants: the bill is steep

Like all his counterparts, Jean-François Diaz, owner of O'Pauseto on Place Mallet in Bagnols, will pay €957 per year, which is the minimum fee for professionals.“I am entitled to 188 openings per year. However, we work 230 days [he is obliged to throw out the trash every day]. The additional opening costs 6 euros.” He has not yet paid his first bill because the one he received included the maximum flat rate, i.e. 2,243 euros (476 openings per year), which he contested. Adding the €957 flat rate and the additional levies, it could reach €1,259. He and others are trying to juggle: several restaurateurs say that on some days they take their garbage bags home, where they pay the fee as individuals. Another restaurateur shares: “A thousand euros is a bit exaggerated. And I'm lucky, I have a garden and chickens, so I bring all the biowaste home with me.” A shopkeeper in the city centre who does not produce household waste, only cardboard and packaging, regrets: “We were not proposed, as announced, a solution for collecting cardboard boxes.” Before, cardboard boxes were collected twice a week in the old town center. “For professionals, there should be a rate adapted to each activity”, suggests this merchant.

Adjustments in Bagnols and Pont-Saint-Esprit

The implementation of the incentive fee was complex for everyone, and especially in cities. 2024 will have been a year in which the municipalities of Bagnols and Pont-Saint-Esprit made adjustments. In Pont, the team that arrived at the helm in the spring took on the waste issue head-on: the stories of trash cans and cleanliness crystallized many debates. It negotiated with the Agglo so that, in this summer of 2024, the yellow bags placed around the voluntary contribution points are collected every day, from Monday to Friday. “We negotiated for this to be made permanent”, confides Bernard Seu, the mayor's chief of staff. This was the case during the end-of-year holidays. For black bins, it's more complicated. “At the beginning of this year, we are doing a test on a building, the Monplaisir residence, a very well-managed condominium, explains the deputy for cleanliness and the roadworks Jérôme Carminati. The residents asked to switch from containers to the voluntary contribution point system (with badge). The Agglo proposed that this residence be tested for 30-liter bags (instead of 50). They will be entitled to more openings (to store less at home) for the same volume per year. If this works, we would like to generalize this system."

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