France has dropped plans to introduce a mandatory deposit system for plastic bottles, instead proposing that towns and cities establish voluntary schemes.
The French environment ministry said that no mandatory deposit system would be introduced.
The decision followed a three-month consultation involving towns and cities, plastic bottle companies and recycling companies, the ministry said.
EU rules push reuse and packaging reduction
The European Union has adopted measures aimed at reducing the environmental impact of packaging. From 2030, single-use plastic packaging will be banned for most fresh fruits and vegetables weighing less than 1.5 kilograms.
The rules also require that 10% of most drinks be sold in reusable packaging by 2030.
Some EU member states have already introduced mandatory deposit systems for plastic bottles, including Portugal.
France’s decision means the country will instead rely on voluntary schemes at the local level rather than imposing a nationwide mandatory deposit system.
