What to do with your waste?

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Updated on 23/10/2025

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Where to dispose of your waste and how to sort it by category: all the answers here!

In Paris, all waste is sorted

In Paris, there's a solution for every kind of waste: reuse, sorting and recycling, recovery…
For paper and packaging, it's simple: everything can be sorted in the yellow garbage can or the Trilib'. Please note, however, that packaging must be deposited loose , and not nested one inside the other or enclosed in a bag.
For glass, use the white garbage can, Trilib' or the nearest glass column.
For food waste, you can easily take it to your nearest sorting station.
For all the main types of waste, you can find out where to dispose of them in the table below:
Waste Where to drop them off
Textiles Recycling centers
Textile containers
Solidarity collections
Trimobile
Waste collection centers
Large appliances Recycling centers
Points of sale
Waste collection centers
Community collections

Small electrical appliances and telephones Where to buy
Recycling centers
Solidarity collections
Trimobile
Recycling centers
Furniture (mattresses, furniture…)
Recycling centers
Points of sale
Waste collection centers
Community collections
Free collection from your home or building
Batteries and small batteries Collection points near you
Points of sale
Trimobile
Recycling centers
Ampoules Where to buy
Trimobile
Waste collection centers
Dangerous products Trimobile
Waste collection centers
Collection by the Circonscription fonctionnelle, appointment by phone 01 43 61 57 36
Paint cans Trimobile
Waste collection centers (except Carnot, Jessaint and Invalides)
Self-medication waste, syringes Needle boxes then pharmacies and laboratories
Medicaments Pharmacies
Empty drug cartons Yellow-lidded bin
Batteries and waste oils Waste collection centres
Gas cylinders Where to buy
Waste collection centers
Collection by the Circonscription fonctionnelle, appointment by phone 01 43 61 57 36
Ink cartridges Recycling centers
Points of sale
Trimobile
Waste collection centers
Waste
Textiles
Large appliances
Small electrical appliances and telephones
Furniture (mattresses, furniture…)
Batteries and small batteries
Where to drop them off
Collection points near you
Points of sale
Trimobile
Recycling centers
Ampoules
Where to drop them off
Where to buy
Trimobile
Waste collection centers
Dangerous products
Where to drop them off
Trimobile
Waste collection centers
Collection by the Circonscription fonctionnelle, appointment by phone 01 43 61 57 36
Paint cans
Where to drop them off
Trimobile
Waste collection centers (except Carnot, Jessaint and Invalides)
Self-medication waste, syringes
Where to drop them off
Needle boxes then pharmacies and laboratories
Medicaments
Where to drop them off
Pharmacies
Empty drug cartons
Where to drop them off
Yellow-lidded bin
Batteries and waste oils
Where to drop them off
Waste collection centres
Gas cylinders
Where to drop them off
Where to buy
Waste collection centers
Collection by the Circonscription fonctionnelle, appointment by phone 01 43 61 57 36
Ink cartridges
Where to drop them off
Recycling centers
Points of sale
Trimobile
Waste collection centers

ADEME's sorting assistant

If you're wondering what to do with this or that object or waste, find the answer instantly with ADEME's sorting assistant:

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Sorting instructions for the various bins in the garbage can room
.

► What goes in the YELLOW BIN?

The waste disposed of in the yellow bin is sorted and recycled according to its type.

- all cardboard, even soiled cardboard (pizza boxes, French fry trays, etc.), but no food scraps;
- books and magazines;
- large cardboard boxes folded to take up less space;
- plastic bottles: water, fruit juice, soda, oil, shower gel, shampoo, household products;
- all other plastic packaging: polystyrene trays, yoghurt pots, cling film, plastic bags, tubes of cosmetics, etc. These containers must be empty, but there's no need to rinse them. Caps and lids are accepted, preferably tightly screwed on.
- metal : tins, cans, aerosol cans, metal trays and all small metal packaging (compote bottles, coffee capsules, empty medicine packets, potato chip packets, frozen food packets, jar lids, bottle caps, aluminum foil, etc.).
- corks, metal lids and capsules;
- paper (including bills, envelopes, paper bags and magazines), except toilet paper, paper towels, tissues and paper napkins.

Please note: all packaging must be disposed of empty and loose, not nested together or in a bag!

You can either :
- contact your janitor or building manager to request one from the local waste management service;
- use the out-of-home sorting solutions offered by the City of Paris: Trilib', Trimobile, Déchèterie-Espace tri, Points tri.

- wooden crates/packaging should be disposed of in the green or grey bin.
- Waste must be disposed of loose in the yellow bin. The center cannot sort them if they are placed in a plastic bag (or any other container). As soon as the skip is unloaded, the packaging is placed on a conveyor belt and separated by material, manually and mechanically. The sorting staff have no time to open the bags and empty them, or to separate interlocking packaging. The packaging inside will not be recycled.
- diapers, disposable tissues, paper towels and kitchen towels go in the green or grey bin.

If the yellow-lidded bin is not collected, it's because there are too many sorting errors. Garbage collectors visually check each bin. This can lead to the sorting center rejecting the entire contents of the skip, even though only a few bins are involved.
The collection of yellow-lidded bins may also be modified in the event of strikes or special weather conditions. This may lead the collection service to exceptionally collect all bins at the same time (those with yellow and green/grid lids).

► What to throw away in the BAC BLANC?

The white bin is used to collect glass containers for recycling.

Glass bottles, jars and flasks (drinks, oil, preserves, jam, etc.). They must be empty, but there's no need to rinse them.

You can either :
- contact your janitor or building manager to request them from the arrondissement's waste management service;
- bring them to one of the 1,000 glass recycling bins available in Paris, i.e. one every 150 meters.
-bring them to a Trilib' local sorting bin.

-crockery, glass, mirrors, earthenware, porcelain, drinking glasses or stemware, candlesticks, etc. must not be mixed with glass packaging and go into the green bin. They melt at a higher temperature and risk forming defects in new bottles made from recycled glass.
- light bulbs do not go in the white bin. You can take them, even broken ones, to many supermarkets or DIY stores, which have dedicated collection bins at your disposal.

► What to dispose of in the BROWN BORNE?

The brown bollard collects food waste

- meal preparation: vegetable and fruit peelings, eggshells, meat and fish cuts…
- after meals: tea bags, coffee filters and paper napkins…
- Meal leftovers : all vegetable and fruit leftovers, salads with or without dressing, potatoes, pasta, rice, all meat, deli and fish leftovers, including shellfish (oyster shells, mussel shells, etc.), cheese, bread and pastry leftovers, etc.
- out-of-date food products: without packaging.

► What to dispose of in the GREEN or GRAY BIN?

Put what's left after sorting in the green/grey bin!

The green or grey bin is for unsorted waste. In the green/gray bin, dispose of waste in closed bags. Wooden crates/packaging should be disposed of in the green/gray bin.

For reasons of safety and hygiene, it is inconceivable to ask sorting center staff to sort raw waste. Once collected, they are sent directly for incineration, where they are transformed into electricity and heat.

Opt for the green bin as it is essential not to "pollute" the yellow and white bins.

► How to sort successfully? Video answer!

Vidéo Youtube

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Verre

In addition to the white bins in apartment buildings and Trilib' stations, there are now more than 1,000 surface-mounted glass recycling columns and 70 underground columns. The same waste can be deposited there as in the white bin (glass containers: jars, bottles and jars). Particular attention has been paid to their soundproofing. In addition, most of the glass bins have been fitted with lowered openings to make them more accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Good to know
Some columns are removed by the City's services at the request of the Préfecture de Police. We understand the difficulties caused by this situation. Removed glass columns are put back in place with the authorization of the Préfecture de Police.

Textiles

All used TLC (clothing, household linen and footwear) can be returned for recycling, whatever their condition, even if damaged. They should be placed clean and dry in a closed bag, with shoes tied in pairs. They will then be sorted, and either resold for re-use, or recycled.
►Click on this link to find your nearest drop-off point.
But don't forget, you can always have your used clothes and shoes repaired (or have them repaired) before depositing them in the bins!

Green waste

► Green waste collection centers

Parisians can dispose of their plant waste at the following waste collection centres:

► Compost your green and kitchen waste

Your green waste and kitchen scraps (excluding meat, fish and dairy products) can be transformed into compost:
  • at home, thanks to an individual composter or vermicomposter,
  • in your neighborhood, thanks to the collective composter at the foot of your building,
  • to the neighborhood composter.
These last two solutions are supported by the City of Paris, which trains and finances you. Find out more HERE.

Hazardous waste

- Acids (hydrochloric, sulfuric, nitric, hydrofluoric acid)

- Bases (caustic soda, ammonia, potash, carbonates, certain amines)
- Organic solvents (white spirit, fuels, alcohol, trichloroethylene)
- Paints and varnishes and their containers

- Glues, resins

- Laboratory bottles (metallic, mineral, toxic salts, organic acids, etc.)
- Ionic solutions (photographic products, iron perchloride, etc.)
- Phytosanitary products (fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides)

You can find all the information you need on these wastes on the website of EcoDDS, the eco-organization in charge of chemical products.

Also concerned :
- Gas cylinders and fire extinguishers
- Mercury thermometers
- Batteries and waste oils

Mixing hazardous waste with other household refuse poses a risk to health and the environment (and to the health of those who work at the collection site). It requires special separate collection

There are three ways to dispose of your hazardous waste in Paris.
1 - The Trimobile accepts the following specific types of hazardous waste: hazardous DIY and gardening products (paints, solvents, etc.), mercury-containing waste and fire extinguishers.

2 - Voluntary drop-off at the following five Déchèterie-Espace Tri for waste accepted at the Trimobile, as well as used oil, batteries and gas cylinders:
Déchèterie-Espace Tri Quai d'Issy les Moulineaux
Poterne des Peupliers sorting center
Porte des Lilas sorting center
Porte de la Chapelle sorting center
Dépèterie-Espace Tri de la Porte de Pantin

3- Home collection
This service is available from Monday to Friday, from 7.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment. Simply contact the relevant department between 9 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. to make an appointment:
Direction de la Propreté et de l'Eau
Service technique de la Propreté de Paris
Chemical Risks Unit
Tel.: 01 40 30 77 34 / 01 40 30 77 49
Mail: [dpe-stpp-fonc-risqueschimiques puis paris.fr après le signe @]qcr-fgcc-sbap-evfdhrfpuvzvdhrf@cnevf.se[dpe-stpp-fonc-risqueschimiques puis paris.fr après le signe @]
The average waiting time for an appointment is four days. Collection is carried out by trained personnel equipped with a specialized vehicle. For each collection, a toxic waste collection form must be signed by the applicant, who must keep a copy.
Please note that, in view of the health context, the procedures are as follows:
- Waste must be deposited by users on the public highway on arrival of the agents (an appointment is made with a time of arrival). The agents will call the user when they arrive, so that he/she can deposit his/her hazardous waste on the sidewalk).
- Agents do not enter apartments, buildings, yards or gardens.
- Users and agents must respect the rules of social distancing and wear a mask.

Medical waste

Expired, unused medicines and their packaging must be returned to pharmacists, who are obliged to accept them. Cyclamed, a government-approved association, collects and recycles expired and unused medicines for human use returned by patients to pharmacies.
Empty blister packs, packaging and leaflets are disposed of in the yellow-lidded bin.

Used surgical masks should be disposed of in the green/gray bin. They will then be sent for incineration.

Healthcare waste (needles, lancets, used syringes) produced by self-treatment patients (particularly diabetics) is regularly mistakenly thrown into the yellow-lidded bin, posing a safety risk for sorting center staff.

Since 2012, there has been a specific channel for the collection of this waste. In fact, two decrees have entrusted the eco-organization DASTRI with the mission of organizing the free collection network for healthcare waste produced by self-treatment patients. DASTRI is responsible for supplying pharmacists with containers, known as needle boxes (BAA), for the safe collection and storage of syringes and other sharp waste from self-treatment patients.

All perforating healthcare waste, i.e. all sharps waste. This includes lancets, pen needles, transfer needles, microperfusers, catheters and various types of syringes.

So-called "soft" healthcare waste, such as compresses, cotton pads and dressings, should not be stored in needle boxes, but disposed of in the green-lidded bin with household garbage.
Please note that when a healthcare professional (doctor or nurse) provides care in your home, he or she must not leave the waste resulting from this care with you.
DASTRI toll-free number: 0 805 693 536

Fiche R des DASRI perforants

Memo - Resources for DASRI waste referents

Know the pathologies defined for self-treatment

Find out exactly what waste is covered by the needle box

- All pharmacies are legally obliged to distribute needle boxes free of charge to self-treatment patients, on presentation of their medical prescription.
- Once the needle box has been filled, without exceeding the top line, make sure that the final locking system is properly engaged before transporting it to the nearest collection point.

The eco-organization DASTRI is responsible for the collection and disposal of needle boxes, in accordance with environmental regulations specific to infectious risk healthcare waste.

Collection points for needle boxes


In general, it is advisable to keep old X-rays, on the one hand to follow the evolution of a medical problem, and on the other hand to avoid having to repeat the same X-ray several times, which would be costly and expose you to new radiation.
However, some X-rays, for example very old ones, are no longer of any use. What should you do with them?
They should not be disposed of in the household garbage, as old X-rays are often silver-based and contain silver salts, which are toxic if incinerated.
They must therefore undergo specific treatment in specialized facilities. The silver is extracted by electrolysis. This silver is then purified and returned to the precious metal circuit. The cliché sheet (plastic support) is recycled into tubes, pipes, plush, textile fibers and fleece garments.
They can be dropped off at Déchèteries-Espaces tri, Points tri and Trimobiles, or with certain humanitarian organizations such as the Order of Malta: drop them off directly at the head office reception desk at 42 rue des Volontaires (15th) or by filling in the online form.

Please note: the Ordre de Malte now also collects prescription glasses without cases. Telephone number for further information: 01 45 20 80 20.

Ask your radiology center or pharmacist, as in theory they will accept them for reprocessing, but this is not always the case.

Appliances

► Small household appliances, telephones, small computer, hifi and video equipment…

If they're in working order, it's best to take them to a recycling center to give them a second life.
If they are unusable, you can :

► Large household appliances, large computer, hifi and video equipment

If they're in working order, it's best to take them to a recycling center to give them a second life.
If they are unusable, you can :
  • drop them off at an outlet that takes them back (supermarkets, electrical goods stores, etc.).
  • request free home pickup by ecosystem, online or by phone
  • drop them off at a waste collection centre

Batteries, small batteries and accumulators
.

It's easy to collect batteries! All used batteries can be recycled, including rechargeable batteries, by taking them to one of Corepile's 30,000 collection points. Find your nearest one here!
Up to 80% of the metals contained in batteries are extracted and reused in industry.
In particular, you'll find collection points at retailers who sell batteries or equipment requiring batteries to operate. Don't hesitate to ask stores and retailers where you can find a container for used batteries.
You can also :
Bicycle, scooter and car batteries

Batteries for electric bicycles and scooters are not accepted at waste collection centers or Trimobile. They must be returned to the vehicle seller.
Some depots accept car batteries.

Bulbs and lamps

Not all used lamps can be thrown in the garbage can. Some of them contain hazardous substances and require special collection and treatment for recycling.
Since August 13, 2005, the "crossed-out wheeled garbage can" symbol on the lamp means that it must not be disposed of with household waste.
These include low-energy lamps, fluorescent tubes and LED lamps.
These used lamps, which must not be thrown into the bins, must be sorted and deposited at one of the collection points open to the public throughout France. Récylum, an eco-organization, is responsible for organizing the collection and recycling of these used lamps in France, on behalf of all producers who wish to do so.

Edible oils

Private individuals can dispose of their edible oil in the household garbage bin, taking care to pack it in an airtight container (avoid glass bottles and jars, which can be recycled ad infinitum). They can also dispose of edible oils( maximum5 liters ) at the Porte des Lilas (20th arrondissement), Porte de la Chapelle (18th arrondissement), Quai d'Issy-les-Moulineaux (15th arrondissement), Poterne des Peupliers (13th arrondissement) and Porte de Pantin (19th arrondissement) waste collection centers .

Gravats

Rubble is inert waste, material left over from DIY or domestic work (pieces of plaster, mortar, breeze blocks, concrete, tiles, etc.). You can bring them, sorted beforehand, free of charge to certain DIY stores and professional waste collection centers.
Find the list of drop-off points on this page.
For larger volumes, you'll need to call in a professional, in which case a fee will be charged. In this case, you may need a skip or rubble box.

Games and toys

If the toys and games you wish to part with are still in good condition, donate them to an association or sell them. If they are no longer usable, perhaps they can be repaired, or you can take them back to the store (excluding electric, battery-operated or battery-powered toys and games).
You can also bring them to one of the following 3 drop-off centers, which accept them:

Sporting and leisure goods

What do we mean by "sports and leisure goods"? All items related to individual or group sports: balls, rackets, fitness equipment, water sports, mountain sports… But also equipment for activities such as horse riding, fishing, rollerblading…
If the items you wish to part with are still in good condition, donate them to a charity or sell them. If they are no longer usable, have them repaired or return them to a store with a collection point.
You can also drop them off at one of the dedicated kiosks available in many municipal establishments (mairies d'arrondissement, sports facilities…).
You can also bring them to one of the following 3 drop-off centers, which accept them:

Small DIY and garden items

Tools, hoses, watering cans, decorative flower pots… if you want to get rid of small DIY or garden items, you can bring them to one of the following 3 depots that accept them:
Electrical or electronic products and hazardous goods (paints, solvents, etc.) can also be deposited in special containers at the waste collection center.

Why sort?

To preserve natural resources

Materials such as aluminum, steel, plastic and glass are made from natural resources. By sorting your packaging, you can be sure that it will actually be recycled, thus saving natural resources.
Tons of new raw materials have been reintroduced into the production cycle, helping to preserve non-renewable or dwindling resources. For example, one tonne of recycled aluminium cans avoids the extraction of two tonnes of bauxite, and one tonne of recycled plastic saves 650 kg of crude oil.

To limit greenhouse gases

The average carbon footprint in France is 9.2 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per inhabitant per year (2022 figures). Thanks to reuse, sorting and recycling, you can reduce this footprint.
Here are a few examples:
  • 1 tonne of steel recycled = 1.78 tonnes of CO2 equivalent saved
  • 1 tonne of recycled aluminium = 6.89 tonnes of CO2 equivalent saved
  • 1 tonne of recycled paper and cardboard = 0.04 tonnes of CO2 equivalent saved
  • 1 tonne of food packaging recycled = 0.13 tonnes of CO2 equivalent saved
  • 1 tonne of PET plastic bottles recycled = 2.29 tonnes of CO2 equivalent saved
  • 1 tonne of HDPE plastic bottles (opaque plastic) = 1.53 tonnes of CO2 equivalent saved
  • 1 tonne of glass recycled = 0.46 tonnes of CO2 equivalent saved
Producing new raw materials from household packaging waste saves energy. Indeed, extracting raw materials requires more energy than recycling them. For example, remelting aluminum cans requires 95% less energy than extracting the metal from ore in primary production.

The journey of sorted waste

Recycling examples:

Are you a janitor or building resident?

You can print the posters to put on top of the bins or in the garbage garbage cans reminding you of the sorting instructions to follow for the different bins by downloading them from the"documentation" section at the bottom of this page.
You can also pick them up free of charge in laminated A3 format by making an appointment with your local cleanliness division.

Cleaning services in your arrondissement: addresses and contacts

1st/2nd/3rd/4th arrondissements
2 rue des Quatre-Fils (Paris 3rd) - phone: 01 55 34 77 17 - fax: 01 84 82 11 31
5th and 6th arrondissements
100 bis, rue du Cherche Midi (Paris 6e) - phone: 01 53 63 03 30 - fax: 01 71 18 73 59
7th and 8th arrondissements
7, rue Maleville (Paris 8e) - phone: 01 45 61 57 00 - fax: 01 45 61 54 83
9th and 10th arrondissements
75, rue du Fbg Poissonnière (Paris 9th) - phone :01 53 34 11 11 - fax : 01 71 37 76 68
11th arrondissement
40, rue Pétion (Paris 11th) - phone :01 55 28 36 60 - fax : 01 71 28 71 79
12th arrondissement
37-39, avenue Ledru-Rollin (Paris 12e) - phone :01 43 41 74 44 - fax : 01 71 28 36 75
13th arrondissement
6/8 rue Albert Bayet (Paris 13th) - phone: 01 53 94 15 30 - fax: 01 71 28 73 00
14th arrondissement
140 bis, rue du Château (Paris 14th) - phone: 01 56 53 10 20 - fax: 01 53 90 68 54
15th arrondissement
52, rue Dombasle (Paris 15th) - phone: 01 45 45 86 00 - fax: 01 71 28 21 64
16th arrondissement
9 ter, rue des Boulainvilliers (Paris 16th) - phone: 01 55 74 44 60 - fax: 71 18 97 92 01
17th arrondissement
7, rue Maleville (Paris 8e) - phone: 01 45 61 57 17 - fax: 01 45 61 56 50
18th arrondissement
17 bis, rue Joseph de Maistre (Paris 18e) - phone: 01 53 09 22 60 - fax: 01 71 28 77 10
19th arrondissement
66, rue de Meaux (Paris 19th) - phone: 01 53 72 54 00 - fax: 01 53 72 54 91
20th arrondissement
14/18 rue des Prairies (Paris 20th) - phone: 01 40 33 83 33 - fax: 01 72 63 43 00

Club Citeo: introduce your children to sustainable development!

Club Citeo offers a wide range of free tools, resources and educational programs to introduce children aged 6 to 12 to eco-citizenship and sustainable development. Through the concrete example of sorting and recycling packaging and paper, children are made aware of the importance of their everyday actions. All the tools are based on the principles ofEducation for Sustainable Development (ESD), with the emphasis on discovery-based learning.
The aim is to awaken children's critical thinking, make them ask questions and show them how they can do their bit to protect the planet!

Documentation