ABSTRACT
The foundations for French waste management policy were laid almost 20 years ago with the adoption of Act No 75-633 of 15 July 1975 on waste disposal and material recovery. This law has had positive effects, as today 99 percent of household waste is collected, 94 percent is treated in treatment facilities authorized by the 1975 Act, almost 2 million tonnes of hazardous industrial waste is managed in authorized public facilities, and efforts to recycle certain types of material have been made.
