# What budget should a business plan to equip itself with recycling bins?

By Razvan Toma (Founder, PoubelleTri) · updated 2026-09-25

## Short answer

Budget = number of stations × price per station. At median French market prices in September 2026 (PoubelleTri Index), a 2-stream station costs €635 excl. VAT and a 3-stream station €979 excl. VAT: 10 three-stream stations therefore come to about €9,790 excl. VAT, excluding delivery and installation. The number of stations depends on the areas to equip, not on a legal ratio.

## The calculation

- List the areas: reception, every break area or cafeteria, open spaces, meeting rooms, and the outdoor surroundings.
- Choose the number of streams per area (3 streams in offices, at least 2 streams for the public in an ERP).
- Multiply by the price of one station.

## Reference prices (medians excl. VAT)

| Station | Median excl. VAT | Offers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 stream | €279 | 44 |
| 2 streams | €635 | 29 |
| 3 streams | €979 | 21 |

## Number of stations
No regulation sets a number of bins per employee. The obligations cover sorting the streams, not an equipment ratio: see business obligations.

## Sources

- PoubelleTri Index — prices of professional recycling bins (Sept. 2026) <https://poubelletri.fr/en/donnees/>
- Service-Public Entreprendre — Source separation of business waste (checked 17 March 2025) <https://entreprendre.service-public.gouv.fr/vosdroits/F37782>

https://poubelletri.fr/en/reponses/budget-equiper-entreprise-poubelles-tri/ · more: <https://poubelletri.fr/en/reponses/> · <https://poubelletri.fr/en/llms.txt>