Mr. Bernard Lemoine, Director of the French Agricultural Plastics Commission, was interviewed by Fleur Martin
“I interviewed you in 2019, when the recycling scheme for disposable drip tape was starting up in France. I would like you to provide me with an update on the way the scheme has evolved”.
1. Is the scheme still organised in the same way?
Yes, you do not change a successful recipe: the manufacturers charge for the eco-contribution which finances the collection operations organised by Adivalor.
The manufacturers who are part of the scheme must display and include in the invoice, in addition to the price of the product, the amount relating to the eco-contribution, per product, which will be paid by the farmer to finance the scheme. Thus, the manufacturers can guarantee the disposal, collection and recycling of the product, but they cannot do everything themselves. While the CPA manages the financial aspect of the collections. Adivalor deals with the operational aspect (collection, transport, pre-processing and processing) in each department.
2. Have all the tube manufacturers joined the scheme?
We can say that 98% of the manufacturers are part of the scheme. They are all in it together.
3. Are there still 200 collection points in France? How are they distributed around the country?
I have not got the exact figures to hand but it must have increased. There has been an upsurge in the volumes and there are also more collection places. As far as their distribution throughout France is concerned, we operate mainly in the market gardening regions of the south-east, south-west and west of the country. Major users of drip drip tape are also the melon producers in the south-west, Poitou and around Cavaillon.
4. Why does a distributor decide to become a collection operator? Why is it in their interest?
The distributor who organises the collection is a stakeholder in the scheme because his or her clients have requested this. He or she understands the market has changed. It is no longer sufficient to simply sell the product, the farmers must be supported in the use of the product and given assistance in managing the product’s end-of-life stage. This has become one of the conditions of marketing and is practised by most of the distributors. They are all involved in passing on information and organising the pre-processing. Finally, it is positive for the distributor to have an image of being an organisation that promotes a clean and sustainable environment.
5. Are the drip tape collected from the farms or do they have to be brought to a collection point?
The tube is an exceptionally light but cumbersome product. If the farmer can fill a 30 m3 bin, then the used pipes can be collected from the farm, but the smaller-scale producers who are unable to generate such a volume must take it to a collection site. If they so wish, they can ask for the used drip tape to be collected from the farm, but this will incur an extra cost if the volume is less than the norm.
6. How are the drip tape subsequently treated and what does the recycling involve?
The drip tape are products that are easy to recycle because they are made of very common 100% low density polymers. After collection, they need to be baled before being sent off for recycling. The product is appealing for the recyclers because it is uniform and consistent. A small part is reused in agricultural products and the remainder is reused in other applications. Everything that is collected, i.e. 1,700 tonnes in 2022?, is recycled.
7. How much does this cost and how have the farmers reacted to this price increase?
For flexible irrigation drip tape, the amount agreed upon by consensus of the players involved when the scheme began was set at 75 € /tonne, exclusive of tax. However, the financial needs of the scheme increased with greater volumes and significant inflation in the cost of energy and transport these last few months. Therefore, the amount due for the eco-contribution is regularly reassessed to ensure that it covers these extra outlays. The amount is now 140 €/T.
The farmers are in favour of the organisation of plastic waste collections in France. Although the eco-contribution represents an extra cost, it is not an additional expense and it guarantees the safe, sound and sustainable management of agricultural plastics. The system is, therefore, beneficial for the farmers.
8. What about the other irrigation products (PE hose reels, drip irrigation lines…)?
The scheme only comes into play when we receive a request. However, it is not yet in demand in these other sectors.
9. What is happening in the other countries of Europe?
There is no other scheme in Europe, which is similar to ours. The other European countries are lagging behind in the management of the drip tape compared with France. The advantage of our model is that there are several different players involved who manage the scheme themselves (manufacturers, distributors and farmers).
I would also like to add that there is a new dimension to the scheme: the rate at which the recycled granules are incorporated into the new products. This initiative is at its embryonic stage and it was implemented on 1st September, with a monitoring system set up to assess the market for drip tape made of recycled granules.
10. How do you see the years ahead?
After more than 20 years in this business, my working life is now coming to an end. Throughout this period, I have seen significant changes taking place in the mindsets, attitudes and decisions made on environmental issues. In this context, French agriculture is at the forefront and well ahead of its time compared with other sectors and countries.
The task is enormous, but the coming years will benefit fully from the experiences that we have acquired here. The French, European and even global public authorities are not mistaken in introducing or considering new legislation which, far from jeopardizing these achievements, embraces them and helps us to become even more efficient. The real lesson learned is to place our trust in the professionals who are in the best position to develop solutions adapted to the farmers' needs.
In the years to come, these sectors and schemes will continue to develop under the impetus of new generations, who will build on this momentum.
