Sporting and recreational goods (ASL)

To manage the waste generated by sporting and recreational goods, France’s Anti-Waste Act for a Circular Economy (‘AGEC Law’) provides for the creation of an EPR scheme. It has been in operation since 31 January 2022.
Read on to find information, publications and data on the sporting and recreational goods (abbreviated ‘ASL’ in French) scheme.
 

Sporting and recreational goods (ASL)

To manage the waste generated by sporting and recreational goods, France’s Anti-Waste Act for a Circular Economy (‘AGEC Law’) provides for the creation of an EPR scheme. It has been in operation since 31 January 2022.
Read on to find information, publications and data on the sporting and recreational goods (abbreviated ‘ASL’ in French) scheme.
 

115 000

tonnes

of products placed on the market in 2024

15 000

tonnes

of products collected in 2024

3 700

tonnes

of products reused in 2024

Need more data on the scheme?

View the dashboard of 2024 data reported by the scheme’s producer responsibility organisation, on all aspects from market placements to collection, treatment, reuse, repare and financial data. 

The dashboards are currently only available in French. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. You can find the list of publications we produce in English on the Publications page. 

Everything you need to know about the scheme

The key ambitions of the sporting and recreational goods EPR scheme are to:  

  • Develop the reuse and repair of these goods, in collaboration with social and solidarity economy (SSE) operators in particular;
  • Develop new collection channels, through the take-back of used products by distributors in particular;
  • Develop the recycling of sporting and recreational goods that could be reused;
  • Reduce the amounts of residual household waste collected by the public waste management service. 

The products concerned 

The products concerned by the sporting and recreational goods EPR scheme are: 

  • Cycles and non-motorised personal transport devices;
  • Products for sports and outdoor activities; 

The accessories of the above-mentioned products come under the corresponding product families. 


Products not concerned

The products not concerned by the sporting and recreational goods EPR scheme are: 

For further information, see article R543-330 of the Environmental Code

The producers concerned by the sporting and recreational goods EPR scheme are: “Any natural person or legal entity that, in a professional capacity, either produces in France, or imports, or assembles, or introduces for the first time on the national market, sporting and recreational goods on the list of products concerned that are intended to be transferred to the end user either in return for payment or free of charge using any selling technique whatsoever, or to be used directly within French national territory.”  

In the event that sporting and recreational goods are sold under the sole brand of a reseller, the reseller is considered to be the person or entity putting them on the market.  

For further information, see article R543-330 of the Environmental Code. 

The regulations define 2 different categories of sporting and recreational goods:  :

  1. The cycles defined in section 6.10 of article R. 311-1 of the French Highway Code1 and non-motorised personal transport devices defined in section 6.162 of the same article.
  2. Products for sports and outdoor activities 

(1)Vehicle with at least two wheels and powered exclusively by the muscle power of the persons on board, in particular by means of pedals or cranks  
(2) Non-motorised personal transport device: small vehicle without an engine. 

1 producer responsibility organisation (PRO) is accredited for the current accreditation period

Accredited PRO Categories Current accreditation period EPR fees rate
Logo ECOLOGIC 1 and 2 2022-01-31 – 2027-12-31 Check the rates

When a producer joins a producer responsibility organisation (PRO), it pays the organisation an EPR fee in return for the latter taking responsibility for its obligations relating to the products it places on the market.

This amount may be modulated upwards or downwards depending on the environmental characteristics of the products. A bonus rewards virtuous practices, while a penalty is applied to a product with characteristics that have a significant impact on the environment or human health.

Bonuses

Applicable within the sporting and recreational goods EPR scheme in 2025

Criterion Condition Bonus amount Documentary proof
Incorporation of non-plastic recycled materials Product incorporating at least 10% (by weight) pre-consumer or post-consumer recycled materials (non-plastic).
Concerns bicycles, scooters, oars, paddles, ski bindings, hiking poles, and neoprene wetsuits.
-5% to -20% of the EPR fee amount, depending on the content and origin of the material. Recycled material percentage calculated or certified as per the standard EN15343 (textiles) or EN45557 (metals and other materials).
Proof of material traceability up to final incorporation.
Incorporation of recycled plastic materials Product incorporating plastic materials derived from pre-consumer or post-consumer recycling of waste sporting and recreational goods or from waste collected or supported by a PRO.
Applicable to polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA) resins. The list of eligible products can be obtained from the PRO on request.
€220 to €540/t of recycled material incorporated (depending on material origin) Certification of recycled material percentage as per the standard EN15343/2007.
Proof of material traceability up to final incorporation.
Availability of spare parts Products for which all spare parts and technical documentation are available for more than 10 years following placement on the market.
Concerns bicycles, scooters, table tennis tables, rowing machines, elliptical trainers, recreational tents, basketball baskets, and stand-up paddles.
Up to -10% of the EPR fee amount Contract document guaranteeing that spare parts will be available for 10 years.
Technical documentation on how to repair the product.
Recyclability Product recyclability rate greater than 50% (calculated using the tool provided by the PRO). Applicable to 6 products defined by the PRO. -10% of the EPR fee amount
Increased to -50% when the rate reaches 95%
 
Web page stating the product’s Environmental Qualities and Characteristics (EQC)
Recyclability calculated using the PRO’s tool or a Bill of Materials enabling this to be done.

Penalties

Applicable within the sporting and recreational goods EPR scheme in 2025

Criterion Condition Penalty amount Documentary proof
Availability of spare parts A product for which the average lead time for all spare parts exceeds 7 working days. Concerns bicycles, scooters, table tennis tables, rowing machines, elliptical trainers, recreational tents, basketball baskets, and stand-up paddles. Up to +10% of the EPR fee amount Contract document guaranteeing that spare parts will be available within 7 working days.
In case of audit: purchase and delivery orders for spare parts over a 12-month period.
Recyclability Product recyclability rate less than 50% (calculated using the tool provided by the PRO). Applicable to 14 products defined by the PRO. +10% of the EPR fee amount Web page stating the product’s Environmental Qualities and Characteristics (EQC)
Recyclability calculated using the PRO’s tool or a Bill of Materials enabling this to be done.

Several bonuses or penalties may apply to a given product under this scheme.

Producers, to enquire about the conditions you have to meet and the procedures you have to complete to benefit from a bonus, or check whether you are subject to a penalty, please contact your producer responsibility organisation.


Find out more about EPR fee modulation

The specifications for the scheme set the following targets: 

Categories  Collection targets Reuse targets1  Recycling targets2 
2024 2027 2024 2027 2024 2027
Category 1  18 % 25 % 9 % 14 % 59 % 62 %
Category 2  20 % 35 % 4 % 5 % 35 % 50 %

(1) relative to market placements in the year N-1.          
(2) relative to the quantities collected minus the quantities reused in the current year

The website Que faire de mes déchets/objets (“What to do with my waste and objects”) is designed to help individuals adopt best practices in terms of repair, reuse and recycling.  
It is based on a simple, intuitive search engine: by entering an object or waste item, users can find out how to dispose of it responsibly.  
An interactive map also shows them where they can find their nearest collection, repair and reuse points.

Informing your consumers or citizens

As a company or local authority, you have a vital role to play in raising awareness of these best practices. By publicising this resource, you can offer your users a valuable service while promoting your commitment to a circular economy. 

Integrate this tool [in French] on your site

Timeline

AGEC Law

February 2020

February 2020

AGEC Law

September 2021

Implementing decree

September 2021

Implementing decree

Publication of the specifications

October 2021

October 2021

Publication of the specifications

January 2022

Accreditation of the Ecologic PRO

January 2022

Accreditation of the Ecologic PRO

2022 - 2027

Accreditation valid

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