Traveling this Monday to a McDonald’s restaurant in Le Mans, Christophe Béchu welcomed the obligation since January 1 to serve meals on site in washable and reusable dishes.
A minister at McDo. On the occasion of the end of disposable dishes in fast food chains, effective since January 1, the Minister of Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu went this Monday noon to a McDonald’s restaurant in Le Mans (Sarthe). He was accompanied by the Secretary of State for Ecology Bérangère Couillard.
The two members of the government spoke with teams and customers about the ban on disposable tableware, before answering questions from the press. This move comes the day after the entry into force of one of the key provisions of the Agec law (anti-waste for a circular economy), adopted in February 2020.
Since January 1, fast food restaurants like McDonald’s or Burger King can no longer serve single-use tableware to their customers who eat on the spot, even if it is made of cardboard. Meals must now be served in washable and reusable dishes. The only exception concerns the paper that surrounds the sandwich, in order to prevent it from falling apart. This measure also applies only to brands serving more than 20 covers simultaneously and concerns nearly 40,000 establishments. She “will end the waste of 20 billion plates, cups, cutlery and other disposable containers each year in fast food“said the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
A fund of 50 million euros per year
A fund of 50 million euros per year will support independent restaurateurs in particular in the implementation of these new reusable packaging solutions. “This fund will help them, for example, to finance work to install a washing machine or to acquire equipment”, specifies the ministry.
Checks will be carried out by inspectors from the Regional Directorates for the Environment, Planning and Housing (Dreal) and the General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), to ensure ensure the implementation of this provision. Fines of up to 15,000 euros and daily penalties could be imposed on recalcitrant restaurants. “Initially, we will be lenient with the independents to give them time to adapt. But for big chains it will be different“, recognizes the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
Precisely, a meeting must be held this Friday between the ministry and the bosses of the 25 largest fast food brands. “We will take stock with them of the number of restaurants that already comply with the standards, any difficulties they encounter and the time frame within which all of their points of sale will be up to standard.“, said Christophe Béchu.
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There is still the question of disposable tableware linked to take-out sales. But its ban does not seem to be relevant, for the moment. “It is not yet on the program for the coming years“said the Ministry of Ecological Transition.