After pedagogy, place to “name and shame” (Name and cover with shame, according to the literal translation). A dozen fast food brands have not yet presented their action plan on the implementation of reusable tableware, which has been compulsory since January 1, the government announced on Wednesday. This opens the door to the implementation of sanctions against them.
“Compass Group, Restoria, 1001 Meals, Elior, Dupont Restauration, Starbucks, Domino’s, Five Guys, McDonald’s (Antilles) and Nabab Kebab” are the companies that “still have not submitted action plans to date”, indicated the Minister of Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu and his Secretary of State Bérangère Couillard, in a press release.
These companies are part of the thirty brands (fast and collective catering as well as theme parks) that the ministers had convened on January 6 to take stock of this measure, the effective application of which is still encountering practical difficulties. .
Some brands argued, among other things, that they needed additional time to carry out the necessary work in order to be able to wash dishes or that they could experience delays in the delivery of new containers.
A delay, but still no measures
The ministers had then granted a period of fifteen days for each sign to present the measures and the timetable that it intended to implement to achieve during the year to respect this new obligation. The ten brands that have not always responded after a month “have been relaunched twice”, assures the ministry.
“A control campaign will begin in the field at the beginning of March” and “sanctions may be instituted against restaurant chains which do not comply with the law and which have not put in place an action plan to fix it,” threatens the government. “A progress report will be carried out at the end of March during a new meeting of catering brands at the ministry”, he specifies.
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Since January 1, fast food restaurants must use reusable tableware for meals and drinks served at the table, whether cups, lids, plates, containers or cutlery, in application of the law relating to the fight against waste and the circular economy (Agec), voted in 2020.
The obligation applies to restaurants that can accommodate at least 20 guests. “This measure is not anecdotal: almost 200,000 tonnes of waste will be avoided each year, the equivalent of 20 Eiffel Towers! “said Bérangère Couillard in her press release.