While the overhaul of the REP PMCB sector enters a new phase, the CAPEB keeps up the pressure on the government and the actors of the system: the organization requests in particular preserve the free recovery of small volumes of sorted waste such as guaranteeing a sufficiently dense territorial network so as not to increase the financial and logistical constraints of craft businesses.
For the employers’ organization, the reform must neither lead to new costs for craft businessesnor call into question the principle of a simple, accessible and effective recovery service. Artisans already finance the sector through eco-contributions and must, in return, be able to benefit from deposit solutions adapted to their needs.
Free small volumes at the heart of the demands
There CAPEB asks that artisanal businesses can continue to drop off their sorted waste for free at collection points for volumes less than 1.5 tonnes or 3 m3. This free service constitutes, according to the organization, an essential condition for proper functioning of the REP PMCB. Craftsmen generally produce limited volumes of waste, but must regularly make deposits linked to their construction sites. To impose additional billing on them would therefore amount to increase the cost of waste managementeven though they already contribute to financing the system.
CAPEB believes that the conclusions of the Council of State support this position. According to her, the Council of State considers that calling into question the free recovery would not comply with the provisions of the law relating to the fight against waste and the circular economy (AGEC). The Council of State also recalls, again according to CAPEB, that the producers must cover at least 80% of the costs necessary for waste management at the industry level.
L’financial envelope of the REP PMCB is now estimated at around 600 million euros. For CAPEB, this level of financing must make it possible to reconcile the control of operating costs and the maintaining free access for small volumes of sorted waste.
A territorial network sufficiently close to the construction sites
The question of the proximity of recovery points constitutes the other major concern of the professional organization. Indeed, CAPEB regrets that the construction of the territorial network was not designed in consultation with local stakeholders. She is also concerned about the reinforced role attributed to the coordinating eco-organization in determining this network. The removal of any average distance requirement could, according to her, encourage a reduction in the number of recovery points in the name of cost control. However, for craft businesses, a collection point that is too far away can quickly lead to additional kilometers, transport time and additional logistics costs.
There CAPEB therefore requests that proximity criteria be maintained in the future decree. She also hopes that communities, building professionals and waste management stakeholders can define together territorial organizations adapted to local realities,The objective being to prevent the search for economic efficiency from resulting in a deterioration of the service provided to businesses. Because there refoundation of the REP PMCB cannot be credible without the association of the actors directly concerned. The organization believes that the first years of operation of the sector showed the limits of a system insufficiently anchored in the realities of companies and territories. She therefore asks that representatives of construction companies, communities and waste management professionals be associated with the definition and monitoring of the future system, a participation which should make it possible to better take into account the concrete constraints of craftsmen – limited volumes, diversity of sites, distance from collection points, transport time and organization of sorting.
CAPEB maintains three requirements
At this stage, CAPEB intends to remain faithful to the principles it has defended since the start of the refoundation. For the organization, the future system must absolutely guarantee:
– there free return of small volumes of sorted waste from craft businesses ;
– A truly effective territorial network close enough to companies and construction sites, built with local stakeholders;
– Funding to guarantee these services, while respecting the coverage of at least 80% of costs by the sector.
Jean-Christophe Repon, the president of CAPEB, insists on the need to maintain a service commensurate with the contributions paid by companies: the “CAPEB requests that the REP PMCB fully fulfills its vocation and provides a service commensurate with the contributions paid by companies. We are ready to continue discussions with the Government and all stakeholders. But we will do so on the basis of these principles, which constitute the constant basis of our position since the launch of the refoundation“.
The president of CAPEB, however, toughened his tone on the outcome of the discussions: “and if these guarantees cannot be included in the new system, I reaffirm it: it is better to eliminate the REP PMCB sector than to maintain a degraded system, which would place more costs and constraints on artisanal companies without providing them with a service commensurate with their contributions.“.
