On January 1, 2023, France will ban fast food chains from using single-use containers, plates, cups and tableware, both for eating in and for take-out.
France’s 30,000 fast-food restaurants serve up to six billion meals a year, producing around 180,000 tons of waste.
The European Paper Packaging Alliance criticized the move saying most single-use containers have a recycling rate of 82% across the EU.
Restaurants have observed that customers take or throw reusable cups, plates and cutlery in the trash instead or returning them.
The Subway sandwich chain believes a “public awareness effort” is needed to inform customers to adjust and reuse tableware.
