France preparing to launch new waste policy

The French government is considering new tax measures to avoid a mid-term crisis in household waste management, as part of new waste legislation to be presented to parliament next year.

A recent modelling study of economic policy options for the environment ministry found that a combination of council taxes, either flat rate or unit based, and a national advanced disposal or "upstream" tax paid by producers would be the most effective way to reduce household waste output, one of the government's major objectives.