2023-11-21 14:32:36
The Ministry of Ecological Transition issued last Friday “a decision of daily financial penalty against the eco-organization Alcome responsible for the prevention and management of cigarette butts on behalf of tobacco producers”, reveals a press release published by the government. The goal ? Force Alcome to financially support local authorities in the context of the installation of street ashtrays.
The amount of this penalty was set progressively at 100 euros per day until the end of November then at 7,500 euros per day from December 1, “the objective being to encourage the eco-organization to regularize the situation as quickly as possible”, as the ministry specifies in a press release.
Alcome contests this decision
This decision “follows the refusal of the eco-organization to comply with the formal notice issued on June 19, 2023 by the General Directorate of Risk Prevention (DGPR) to produce within the allotted deadlines the elements allowing financial support local authorities for the acquisition and installation of street ashtrays of their choice”.
For its part, Alcome “disputes the reason given for a delay” and specifies that it was agreed between it and the State that it should formalize “these elements before December 31, 2023”. A calendar which, according to the eco-organization, was “validated again on September 12 by the General Directorate of Risk Prevention (DGPR), in charge of this file at the Ministry of Ecological Transition”.
The “polluter pays” principle
“The effectiveness of this work required broad consultation with communities to support the construction of the support system,” continues Alcome, who says “I understand this decision even less as it comes a few days before a scheduled work meeting with the Ministry of Ecological Transition to present the elements expected by the State”.
As a reminder, the law relating to the fight against waste and the circular economy of February 2020 created an extended producer responsibility (EPR) sector for cigarette butts. The objective: to reduce the presence of plastics in the environment, and in particular in the oceans, when smokers throw their butts on public roads. As a reminder, the “polluter pays” principle requires cigarette manufacturers to pay an eco-contribution to the eco-organization responsible for financing the collection and disposal of cigarette butts.
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