Building products and materials for the construction sector (PMCB)

Building construction products and materials account for a large quantity of waste. There are some specific issues to be addressed, related to improving sorting and reducing illegal dumping in particular. France’s Anti-Waste Act for a Circular Economy (‘AGEC Law’) provided for the creation of an EPR scheme to manage these issues. This scheme has been in operation since 2023.  
Read on to find information, publications and data on the PMCB scheme. 

Building products and materials for the construction sector (PMCB)

Building construction products and materials account for a large quantity of waste. There are some specific issues to be addressed, related to improving sorting and reducing illegal dumping in particular. France’s Anti-Waste Act for a Circular Economy (‘AGEC Law’) provided for the creation of an EPR scheme to manage these issues. This scheme has been in operation since 2023.  
Read on to find information, publications and data on the PMCB scheme. 

22 M

tonnes

of waste in 2024

45 %

recovery rate

Recycling, material and energy recovery in 2024

- de 1 %

reuse rate

for construction products and materials

Need more data on the scheme?

View the dashboard of 2024 data reported by the scheme’s producer responsibility organisations, on all aspects from market placements to collection, treatment, reuse 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 PMCB EPR scheme has been set up to address the following issues: 

  • Strengthen sorting at source - in line with the French ‘Seven waste flows decree’ applicable to the building products sector - and facilitate collection. Approximately 40% of building products waste was still being collected mixed in 2019.
  • Improve the efficiency of recycling and recovery
  • Combat illegal dumping
  • Improve waste traceability
  • Bolster reuse and encourage ecodesign 

The products concerned 

This scheme covers products and materials integrated permanently into a building and its plot. 
For example: 

  • Products and materials composed mainly of minerals: reinforced concrete structural components, bricks, tiles, ceramic sanitary equipment, stone floor coverings, etc.
  • Other products and materials: doors, windows, carpets, parquet flooring, plumbing, cladding, wood or metal structural frameworks, plaster partitions, insulating materials, coatings, etc. 



Products not concerned

The following products are excluded from the building products scheme: 

  • products and materials used only during the construction phase,
  • public works products and materials,
  • excavated earth,
  • nuclear installations,
  • funeral monuments,  
  • industrial facilities. 

 

For further information, see article R543-289 of the Environmental Code

The regulations define 2 different categories for the PMCB scheme: 

  1. Construction products and materials composed mainly, by mass, of minerals containing no glass, mineral wool or plaster, within the following families: 

    • Concrete and mortar or products used in their preparation;
    • Lime;
    • Stone such as limestone, granite, sandstone and lava;
    • Baked or unbaked clay;
    • Slate;
    • Bituminous mix or products used in its preparation, excluding bituminous membranes;
    • Aggregate;
    • Ceramics.
       
  2. Other construction products and materials in the following families: 
    • Construction products and materials composed mainly, by mass, of: 

      • Metal;
      • Wood;
      • Plaster;
      • Plastics;
      • Bituminous membranes;
      • Glass wool;
      • Rock wool.
    • Mortars, coatings, paints, varnishes, resins, preparation and application products, including their containers, other than those covered by the chemical products EPR scheme;
    • Joinery including glass, glazed partitions and related construction products;
    • Plant- or animal-based construction products, or other materials not mentioned in another family within this category. 

4 producer responsibility organisations (PROs) are accredited for the current accreditation period

Accredited PRO Categories Current accreditation period EPR fees rate
Logo VALOBAT 1 and 2 2022-09-30 – 2027-12-31 Check the rates
Logo VALDELIA 2 2022-10-06 – 2027-12-31 Check the rates
Logo ECOMINERO 1 2022-10-10 – 2027-12-31 Check the rates
Logo ECOMAISON 2 2022-10-10 – 2027-12-31 Check the rates

Coordination body 

The coordination body OCAB is accredited for the PCMB scheme until 31 December 2027 (order of 30 July 2025). Its role is to coordinate the activities undertaken by the accredited producer responsibility organisations, to offer a ‘one-stop shop’ service for EPR scheme users and a single administrative interface for local authorities in charge of the public waste management service and, lastly, to distribute the PROs’ obligations relating to the collection of waste building construction products and materials.  

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 building products EPR scheme in 2025 

Criterion Condition Bonus amount Documentary proof
Renewable resource Products made of solid wood, wood-based panels or animal- or plant-based materials derived from sustainably managed resources.
For wood products, the minimum certified wood content ranges from 30% to 70%, depending on the PRO.
-10% or -50% of the EPR fee amount (varies from one PRO to another) PEFC, FSC or equivalent certification
Sworn statement or material traceability system
Incorporation of recycled wood Products incorporating wood derived from post-consumer waste, collected or supported by a PRO, and recycled within 1,500 km of their collection point. The minimum recycled wood content of the product varies depending on the product.   €40/t of incorporated material above the threshold Declaration of material quantities and origin
Supplier certification or attestation
Incorporation of recycled minerals

Threshold varies depending on the product:

  • concrete, aggregates, cements: as per applicable standards
  • baked clay products: 10%
  • bituminous mixtures: 25%
Up to -50% of the EPR fee amount depending on the product See the PRO’s instructions
Incorporation of recycled metals Products incorporating recycled metals. Applicable to wires and cables, cable trays, joinery and products made of aluminium
Minimum proportion of recycled metals varies depending on the product (10 to 50%).
Up to -50% of the EPR fee amount depending on the product Certification 
or proof of material purchase and traceability
or proof of purchase and attestation from supplier
Data sheet
Incorporation of recycled plaster Products incorporating at least 32% recycled plaster. -10% of the EPR fee amount Declaration of material quantities and origin
Certification or attestation from supplier 
or manufacturer stating recycled product origin and content
Incorporation of recycled plastic Products incorporating recycled plastic. 
Applicable to various plastic products (including floor coverings, joinery, insulating materials, PU foams, etc.)
Minimum proportion of recycled plastic varies depending on the product and the PRO (2.5 to 70%)
Bonus of 5% to 20% of the EPR fee amount or of €50 or €450/t of recycled material incorporated above the threshold (depending on the product, resin and PRO) Certification
or proof of material purchase and traceability
or proof of purchase and attestation from supplier
Declaration of material quantities and origin
Data sheet or attestation of absence of hazardous substances
Incorporation of other recycled materials

Threshold varies depending on the product and PRO:

  • glass wool: 50% or 65%
  • rock wool: 5% or 50%
  • bituminous membranes: 10 to 30%
Up to -10% of the EPR fee amount depending on the product Declaration of material quantities and origin
Certification or proof of material purchase and traceability
or proof of purchase and attestation from supplier
Data sheet or attestation of absence of hazardous substances
Sustainability and repairability Composite shell swimming pools with a 30-year watertightness guarantee
Lifts for which spare parts are available for at least 10 years
Bathtubs supplied with a scratch repair kit
Up to -20% of the EPR fee amount depending on the product Guarantee certificate, general terms and conditions of sale or special conditions
Repair instructions
Reusability Floor coverings laid with a method enabling them to be reused -15% of the EPR fee amount Data sheet or instructions for laying
Traceability Lifts with marking and provision of information on product sustainability. -15% of the EPR fee amount Proof of product marking
Link to documentation for the consumer
Recyclability Minimum product recyclability level determined by the PROs’ tools.
This level is assessed depending on the materials used and the presence of disruptors.
Variable EPR fee Data sheet
Recyclability calculation done using the PRO’s tool
Absence of ecotoxicity Water-based paints and coatings with no hazard pictograms. -10% of the EPR fee amount Product data sheet, material safety data sheet, certification, or supplier attestation
Carbon footprint Glazing incorporating recycled glass with a carbon footprint of less than 1.9 kg CO2eq/mm.m² -10% of the EPR fee amount Environmental and Health Declaration Sheet

Penalty

Applicable within the building products EPR scheme in 2025

Criterion Condition Penalty amount Documentary proof
Perturbateurs de recyclage  Presence of recycling disruptors in products.
List of disruptors and products concerned drawn up by the PRO.
Up to +20% of the EPR fee amount depending on the product Product data sheet, material safety data sheet, certification, or other document stating the detailed product composition

Bonuses may be cumulative, depending on the PRO selected. However, a product subject to a penalty cannot benefit from a bonus.

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 set the following targets: 

Categories  Collection targets*   Recycling targets   Recovery targets  Reuse targets 
2024 2027 2024 2027 2024 2027 2024 2027
Category 1  82 %  93 % 35 % 43 % 77 % 88 % 2 % 4 %
Category 2  53 % 62 % 39 % 45 % 48 % 57 % 2 % 4 %

*with a view to recovery 

 

Some materials have specific recycling targets: 

Flow  Recycling targets 
2024 2027
Concrete  60 % 60 %
Metal 90 % 90 %
Wood  42 % 45 %
Plaster  19 % 37 %
Plastics  17 % 24 %
Glass  4 % 18 %

Prevention

A number of reuse targets have been set, defining a reuse rate relative to the estimated amount of waste generated.  

The PROs are rolling out action plans to meet these targets, including measures such as calls for projects to support work sites or develop new reuse activities, contracts providing support to actors in the reuse sector, and the drafting of technical guides and reference frameworks.

Reuse areas are to be created at take-back points.

And lastly, bonuses and penalties modulate the EPR fees paid since 2024, in order to encourage the market placement of products and materials with better environmental credentials. 

 

Collection

It is estimated that approximately 80% of waste building construction products and materials are collected directly at work sites and that 20% are dropped off at take-back points such as public and professional waste collection centres, distributors, and inert waste facilities.

The producer responsibility organisations have rolled out a network of take-back points. They must ensure that there is a point every 10 or 20 km that accepts all waste flows, including hazardous waste at half of these points.  

Above a certain quantity of waste, the producer responsibility organisations will also collect waste from building contractors and work sites.  

 

Treatment 

Waste in category 1 (minerals) is sent to the following types of treatment: 

  • Reuse (less than 1%)
  • Recycling: production of recycled aggregate, mainly for road works (estimated at 33% in 2019 in the preparatory study)  
  • Material recovery: backfilling of quarries, on site or at another work site (43%)
  • Disposal: storage at an inert waste storage facility (23%) 

Waste in category 2 is sent to the following types of treatment: 

  • Reuse (less than 1%)
  • Recycling (37%)
  • Energy recovery (8%)
  • Disposal: storage at a non-hazardous waste storage facility or incineration (54%) 

Hazardous waste is disposed of: storage at a hazardous waste disposal facility or asbestos storage facility, or sent to a hazardous waste incinerator. 

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

December 2021

Implementing decree

December 2021

Implementing decree

Publication of the specifications

June 2022

June 2022

Publication of the specifications

October 2022

Accreditation of PROs Ecomaison, Ecominéro, Valdélia and Valobat

October 2022

Accreditation of PROs Ecomaison, Ecominéro, Valdélia and Valobat

2022 - 2027

Accreditation valid

Implementation of the scheme

January 2023

January 2023

Implementation of the scheme

May 2023

First ERP fees

May 2023

First ERP fees

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