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France drops plans for mandatory plastic bottle deposit

By Thomson Reuters Sep 7, 2026 | 5:27 AM

PARIS, Sept 7 (Reuters) – France dropped plans to make deposits on plastic bottles ​mandatory, instead proposing towns ‌and cities set up voluntary schemes.

• No mandatory deposit system will be put in place, ‌the ​French environment ministry ⁠said in a ⁠statement released on Friday.

• The decision not to enforce a deposit on plastic ​bottles follows a three-month consultation with towns and ⁠cities, plastic bottles ⁠companies and recycling companies, ​it said.

• In the European ​Union, a law aimed at ‌reducing the environmental impact of packaging will ban single-use plastic packaging for most ⁠fresh fruits and vegetables under 1.5 kg from 2030. It also ⁠mandates ‌that 10% of most ⁠drinks be sold ​in ‌reusable packaging by 2030.

• ​EU member ⁠states such as Portugal have set up mandatory deposit systems for plastic bottles.

(Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by ​Alexander Smith)