# Is biowaste sorting compulsory for businesses?

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

## Short answer

Yes. Since 1 January 2024, source separation of biowaste has applied to all producers, businesses included, with no minimum threshold (article L. 541-21-1 of the French Environmental Code). This covers food waste from offices, restaurants, shops and canteens, as well as garden waste. It must be sorted separately, then composted on site or collected separately.

## What the text says

Article L. 541-21-1 of the French Environmental Code requires biowaste to be sorted at source. Since 1 January 2024, the obligation applies to everyone, with no production threshold.

## Which waste

Biowaste is non-hazardous biodegradable garden or park waste and food waste from households, offices, restaurants, wholesalers, canteens, caterers and retail shops (article L. 541-1-1).

## In a sorting station

The biowaste stream is marked in brown. It needs a closed container that is easy to clean, placed where people eat: cafeteria, break room, catering.

## Sources

- Ministry — Biowaste <https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/politiques-publiques/biodechets>
- Service-public.fr — biowaste sorting <https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A16963>

https://poubelletri.fr/en/reponses/obligation-tri-biodechets-entreprise/ · more: <https://poubelletri.fr/en/reponses/> · <https://poubelletri.fr/en/llms.txt>