Bin collections and charges

Garbage collection in France is organized at a local level and can vary significantly from one commune to another. New arrivals are often surprised by how detailed - and strictly enforced - the rules can be, as well as by recent changes designed to reduce household waste and encourage recycling.

How bin collection works

Traditionally, most households in France have had door-to-door bin collection, with separate bins or bags for general waste, recycling, and, increasingly, biowaste. Collection days are set by municipal by-laws and may differ depending on the type of waste.

Information on collection days and sorting rules is usually available on your mairie’s website. In smaller communes, you may need to phone or visit the mairie to obtain a printed calendar.

Rules are taken seriously. Bins may only be put out on designated collection days (often the night before an early morning pickup) and should be brought back in once emptied.

Leaving bins permanently on the street, or putting them out on the wrong day, can result in fines. Officially, depositing waste without respecting collection times and sorting rules is punishable by a €35 fixed fine if paid promptly, rising to €75 after 45 days. In cases of obstruction of a public street, fines can reach €150 or more, and in theory up to €750 for prolonged obstruction. Enforcement varies, but the longer a bin is left out, the greater the risk.

During periods of snow or other disruption, mairies may announce alternative pickup dates, but this is not guaranteed. Leaving a bin outside “just in case” is still technically an offense, even if fines are rarely applied for short delays.

If you have bulky waste (déchets volumineux) to dispose of - furniture, mattresses, large appliances, or oversized cardboard - you cannot simply put it out with your regular household garbage. 

French law sets out specific rules for bulky items, which vary by commune. Collection may be arranged from your home, on a fixed date, or by appointment through your local mairie, and in many areas, drop-off at a designated déchetterie or collection center is required. The service is usually free up to a certain volume, but excess waste can incur a charge. 

The government also encourages repair, resale, or donation before disposal. Failing to follow these rules - for example, leaving bulky items by the usual bins or dumping them in the countryside - can lead to fines of €135 to €375, rising to €750 or more if the case goes to court. 

In recent years, some mayors have even returned illegally dumped items to their owners, along with fines, in an effort to enforce proper disposal.

Moving toward communal drop-off points

An increasing number of areas are abandoning door-to-door collection altogether in favor of communal drop-off points, known as points d’apport volontaire (PAV).

Under this system, households no longer have individual bins. Instead, residents must take their garbage to shared containers, often using access cards or badges.

These changes often prove controversial, particularly among older residents, people with disabilities, and those without cars. 

Critics argue that the system transfers work from public services to residents and may increase costs overall. Local authorities counter that communal systems reduce truck movements, improve sorting, and lower environmental impact.

How you pay for bin collection

Bin collection is funded in one of two main ways, depending on the commune.

TEOM: the tax-based system

In most of France, garbage collection is paid for via the taxe d’enlèvement des ordures ménagères (TEOM). This appears on the same bill as taxe foncière and is payable to the French tax authority.

TEOM is calculated based on half of a property’s theoretical rental value (valeur locative cadastrale), multiplied by a rate voted by local councils. It bears no direct relation to how much waste a household actually produces.

Although TEOM is billed to property owners, landlords can usually recover it from tenants as part of service charges.

REOM: the fee-based system

Some areas use a redevance d’enlèvement des ordures ménagères (REOM) instead. This is a service fee, billed separately by the commune or an intercommunal authority, and is payable by whoever uses the service (tenant or owner).

REOM does not rely on property values. It is often based on household size and, increasingly, on actual waste volumes.

Incentive charges: paying according to waste

France has set a target of reducing household waste volumes by 15% compared to 2010 levels by 2030. According to the state environmental agency Ademe, waste volumes are still rising in many areas, prompting a push toward “incentive charges” that make it more expensive to throw things away.

These systems aim to encourage residents to reduce waste and recycle more by linking part of the cost to actual usage. The government has set a goal of applying incentive charges to 25 million people; at present, around seven million are covered.

There are two main models:

• An incentive element added to the TEOM, still billed via the property tax system.

• An incentive element added to a REOM fee, billed directly by the waste authority.

Measurement methods vary. Some communes use microchipped bins to track the number of collections, others charge per additional pickup beyond a fixed allowance, or operate card-based access systems for communal bins.

Will incentive charges cost more?

In some areas, yes - though this depends on how councils structure the system.

Ademe has suggested that a charge equivalent to around €3 per wheelie-bin collection would significantly reduce waste volumes. In theory, councils could offset this by lowering the fixed part of TEOM or REOM. In practice, some residents report sharp increases.

In Dordogne, for example, the introduction of a REOM with incentive charges replaced the old TEOM. Under the new system, annual fees depend on household size and include a set number of collections, with extra charges beyond that. Typical costs for a standard 120-liter bin range from around €260 a year for a single-person household to over €500 for larger households, plus €10 per additional collection.

Local campaigners claim average bills have doubled, sparking protests and legal challenges. Similar tensions have emerged in other departments as systems are rolled out.

What you are expected to do?

Where incentive charges apply, the expectation is clear: put less waste in the general bin and make greater use of recycling and biowaste collections.

Many areas have reduced the number of general waste pickups, introduced stricter sorting rules, or run information campaigns to explain the changes. In communal drop-off systems, residents may need access cards and must follow precise sorting instructions.

Failure to comply can result in fines, rejected bins, or additional charges.

Practical advice for homeowners and tenants

• Check your mairie’s website for collection days, sorting rules, and whether TEOM or REOM applies.

• Look at the second page of your taxe foncière bill to see the amount charged for bin collection where TEOM applies.

• If renting, clarify whether bin charges are included in your rent or billed separately.

• If buying, ask about garbage collection costs and whether incentive charges or communal drop-off points are planned.

• Keep bins off the street except on designated days to avoid fines.

As with many aspects of local administration in France, bin collection rules are highly localized. 

What applies in one commune may differ entirely in the next, making it essential to check local arrangements rather than rely on national assumptions.