To prevent and manage waste, France has a scheme called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). EPR is based on the “polluter pays” principle – companies that put their products on the French market are responsible for their entire life-cycle, from design to end- of-life. The EPR scheme aims to cover the whole cycle: eco-design of products, waste prevention, extension of service life and end-of-life management. Most often, producers in the same sector choose to join forces to meet their obligations by creating an eco- organisation – a private, non-profit, State-approved company.
In 2020, France passed a new law, creating a dedicated EPR system for waste oils and lubricants. The following year, under the leadership of the CPL (Centre Professionnel des Lubrifiants – Professional Lubricants Centre) and 22 volunteer French producers, CYCLEVIA was born and became the sector’s eco-organisation. Approved by the public authorities on 23 March 2022, this new organisation, which is unique within the sector, is tasked with shouldering producers’ responsibilities, particularly with regard to the collection and processing of waste oils.
The producer makes a financial contribution upon joining CYCLEVIA. This ‘eco-contribution’ is then redistributed in the form of support to the industry stakeholders who collect and treat the waste. This eco-contribution is not a levy collected by CYCLEVIA, but part of the cost of the product that enables the prevention and management of waste oils to be funded. The eco-contribution for 2022 amounts to €89/tonne and is due from 1st April that year. This contribution may be adjusted to reflect factors that favour environmentally friendly products.
The full press releases can be read below…
CREATION OF CYCLEVIA, THE ECO‑ORGANISATION FOR WASTE OILS AND LUBRICANTS
Creation of CYCLEVIA The producers’ response to the new French requirements on waste oil management
