The EPR schemes must be implemented across the entire territory of France to which the Environmental Code applies. The overseas territories concerned are Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte, Saint Martin, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon. The development of EPR schemes in these territories is, however, being hampered by difficulties arising from local contexts.  

This is why the AGEC law reinforces initial marketers’ obligations in French overseas departments and territories. Within three to five years, the PROs’ collection and treatment performance levels in the overseas territories must be identical to the average levels in mainland France. 

The EPR schemes are applicable in the following overseas territories: 

• Réunion
• Mayotte
• French Guiana
• Guadeloupe
• Martinique
• Saint-Martin
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon 

The PROs and individual compliance schemes currently accredited for the EPR schemes in force are accredited for the entire territory of France and must therefore operate in the overseas departments and territories. Since many of these territories are small and a long way from mainland France, a special system has been put in place to facilitate waste management. When several PROs are accredited for the scope of a given EPR scheme, one representative per scheme can be appointed for each territory.  

When a single PRO is accredited for the scheme (or a specific category of the scheme), it acts as the lead for all the territories.  

The table below indicates the PRO representatives appointed for the schemes concerned: 

*To view the list of individual compliance systems within the scheme, go to the page dedicated to the vehicles scheme.

To facilitate roll-out of the EPR schemes in France’s overseas departments and territories, ADEME and the PROs are co-funding a system of “Inter-EPR scheme platforms”.  

These platforms are coordinated by a local lead on either a full-time or part-time basis, depending on the territory. There is one in each overseas territory except for Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Their role is to coordinate and structure the implementation of EPR schemes via a roadmap.

This roadmap covers a three-year period and includes recommended communication and awareness-raising actions for the territories. The platforms also serve as “one-stop shops” to answer local actors’ questions. 
 

Establishment of the prevention plan

Articles L541-10 and R541-130 of the Environmental Code require PROs to draw up a waste prevention and management plan enabling their schemes to achieve the same waste collection and treatment performance levels in overseas territories as in mainland France. 

This action plan must be drawn up within six months of the PRO obtaining accreditation, and implemented in each territory over a period of three years. These plans are made public and the local authorities are consulted while they are being drawn up.

At the end of the three-year implementation period, the PRO carries out a review and revises the measures in its plan if the performance levels drop below those in mainland France (this revision is carried out under the conditions stipulated in section II of article L. 541-9-6 of the Environmental Code).
 

Overseas territory prevention plans in each scheme 

The prevention plans available for the overseas territories are listed below : 

• Obligation for PROs to consult the local authorities in the overseas territories : Article L541-10 of the Environmental Code ;
• Obligation for PROs to put in place a waste prevention and management plan in the overseas territories: Article L541-10 of the Environmental Code ;
• Procedures to be followed by PROs to put in place a waste prevention and management plan (excluding vehicles): Article R541-130 of the Environmental Code ;
• Procedures to be followed by PROs to put in place the waste prevention and management plan for vehicles : Article R543-165 of the Environmental Code ;
• Schedule of financial support for local authorities, increased for the overseas territories : Article L541-10-2 of the Environmental Code ;
• Method for calculating the increased schedule of support: Article R541-131 of the Environmental Code ;
• Management of 100% of household packaging and graphic paper waste by the PROs : Article L541-10-18 of the Environmental Code ;
• Obligation for PROs operating under a financial system to ensure the collection and treatment of waste at the request of local authorities: Article R541-132 of the Environmental Code ;