Is there a fine for leaving waste on the street?

Verified 28 June 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Yes, it is forbidden of throw away or to abandon its waste on the street (public or private road). Similarly, it is forbidden to deposit your waste without respecting the collection rules defined by the city council (container, day, time, sorting). In the 2 cases, failure to comply with the prohibition is punished by a fine.

What applies to you ?

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Depositing, abandoning, throwing or dumping any type of waste on public or private roads is punishable by flat-rate fine.

If you pay immediately or within 45 days of the finding of infringement (or sending the notice of infringement), the fine is €135.

If you pay after this 45-day period, the fine is €375.

If you do not pay the lump sum penalty or if you contest it, the police court is seized.

The judge may decide to impose a fine of €750 maximum (or up to €1,500, with confiscation of vehicle, if you used it to transport the waste).

Infographie - Is there a fine for leaving waste on the street?

Illustration X - Is there a fine for leaving waste on the street? - plus de détails dans le texte suivant l’infographie — Illustration X
Crédits: Direction de l’information légale et administrative

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The abandonment of waste on the street

It's €135 fine to be paid within 45 days

After this period, the fine shall be increased to €375

If you still don't pay, the judge can set the fine at €750 maximum

To know

The fine may be up to €1,500, with confiscation of the vehicle, if you used it to transport the waste.

The act of depositing its waste in containers, trash bins, dumpsters, locations without respecting the correct containers, days and times of collection, sorting order is punishable by a flat-rate fine.

If you pay immediately or within 45 days of the finding of infringement (or sending the notice of infringement), the fine is €35.

If you pay after this 45-day period, the fine is €75.

If you do not pay the lump sum penalty or if you contest it, the police court is seized.

In particular, it may decide to impose a fine of €150 maximum.

Please note

if you leave a container or a garbage bin on the street permanently, you risk a fine of €750 maximum.

To find out about the collection rules, you should contact your local council.