The glossary

A

AGEC law (France)

Law n°2020-105 of 10 February 2020 on combating waste and the circular economy. The central French text that reorganised waste management, including the establishment of the EPR scheme for tobacco products (extended producer responsibility for the collection and treatment of cigarette butts in public spaces). The French transposition of the broader EU framework set by Directive 2019/904 (the EU SUP Directive).

Article R633-6 of the French Criminal Code

French article that sanctions the abandonment of waste on public roads, including cigarette butts, by a 4th class fine (fixed fine of €135, up to €750 in case of repeat offence). Applicable since decree n°2020-1573 of 11 December 2020. Equivalent littering fines exist across most EU jurisdictions.

B

Waste transfer note (BSD in France)

Official document framed by articles R541-45 et seq. of the French Environmental Code, tracing the journey of a waste item (and in particular a hazardous waste such as cigarette butts) from the producer to its final treatment. Dematerialised via the national platform Trackdéchets. Indispensable for CSRD, ISO 14001 and Ecovadis audits. Equivalent waste-transfer documentation applies under national law in Germany (Begleitschein), the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland.

C

Fire-safe ashtray

Ashtray equipped with a patented metal hood that smothers non-extinguished cigarette butts on contact (oxygen-free atmosphere). Drastically reduces fire risk compared to open ashtrays or default bins. All Easy Premium models integrate this technology.

CSRD — Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive

European directive transposed into French law by the ordinance of 6 December 2023, and into national law across all EU member states. Progressively imposes on large companies (and eventually listed mid-caps) a harmonised sustainability reporting under the ESRS standards. The ESRS E5 standard "Resource use and circular economy" is particularly relevant to waste management.

clikeco

French national logistics operator licensed for hazardous waste, partner of Easy to Change for cigarette butt collection across the French territory. Issues waste transfer notes via Trackdéchets.

D

Hazardous waste

Regulatory category that includes cigarette butts, due to their content of nicotine, heavy metals and residual toxic substances. Implies specific rules for transport (licensed operator) and traceability (waste transfer note mandatory). Defined under the EU Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) and national transpositions.

5-stream / 9-stream decree (France)

French decree n°2016-288 of 10 March 2016 (later extended to 9 streams) requiring companies with more than 20 employees to sort at source several categories of waste: paper/cardboard, metal, plastic, wood, glass, mineral fractions, plaster, textile and biowaste. Cigarette butts are not listed explicitly but fall under the general obligation of responsible management of professional waste. Equivalent stream-separation requirements exist in Germany (GewAbfV) and other EU member states.

E

Easy to Change

B2B brand of the Easy To group (Caeterra) dedicated to corporate cigarette butt collection and recycling. Turnkey integrated service: Made in Picardie hardware, regular clikeco collection, MéGO material recycling or energy recovery, automatic quarterly waste transfer note.

Easy to Compost

B2B service of the Easy To group dedicated to corporate biowaste composting. Visit the site →

Ecovadis

Private CSR rating benchmark for companies, used in particular by the procurement departments of large groups to assess their suppliers. Score from 0 to 100, with medal level (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum). Cigarette butt management is one of the elements assessed on the Environment axis.

Adapted Enterprise (EA in France)

French structure of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) that employs at least 55% of people with disabilities. Several regional partners of Easy to Change are Adapted Enterprises, which allows clients to combine the environmental benefit with a social benefit (mandatory employment quota for people with disabilities).

SSE — Social and Solidarity Economy

Economic sector grouping cooperatives, mutuals, associations, foundations and socially useful commercial companies. Several regional partners of Easy to Change belong to the SSE (Elise, Ostreya, Lemon Tri).

F

Cellulose acetate filter

Main component of the cigarette butt, based on plasticised cellulose. It is this filter that, after washing and treatment, can be transformed into reusable plastic granulate (MéGO material recycling stream).

I

ISO 14001

International standard relating to an organisation's environmental management system. ISO 14001 certification implies in particular documented traceability of waste streams, which the quarterly waste transfer note provided by Easy to Change enables to satisfy for cigarette butts.

M

MéGO

The first French plant for material recycling of cigarette butts, based in Brittany. Industrial partner of Easy to Change for stream A (material recycling): the acetate filter is washed, dried and transformed into plastic granulate used to produce street furniture.

R

EPR — Extended Producer Responsibility

Principle making manufacturers and market-placers financially responsible for the end of life of their products. For tobacco products, EPR is mandated at EU level by Article 8 of the EU SUP Directive (2019/904) and entered into force in France on 1 January 2021 under AGEC law. Concerns only cigarette butts abandoned in public space (not the private perimeter of companies).

Material recycling (stream A)

Treatment stream where the cigarette butt is decontaminated and its components transformed into a secondary material (recycled plastic granulate for street furniture, for example). Preferred stream for demanding CSR approaches (CSRD, Ecovadis Platinum, ISO 14001). Easy to Change uses MéGO for this stream.

S

Peasy awareness

Easy to Change communication strategy built around the Peasy mascot — an offbeat, laid-back polar bear that owns the weariness with environmental injunctions. Aims to actually activate the use of ashtrays by smokers, without guilt-tripping or moralising. Learn more →

T

Trackdéchets

Official French national platform, operated by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, for the digitalisation of waste transfer notes. All waste transfer notes issued by the logistics partners of Easy to Change run through this platform and are accessible by your company at any time.

V

Energy recovery (stream B)

Treatment stream where cigarette butts are dried and then incinerated in certified cement plants. The heat produced is used as substitute fuel in the cement process. Less expensive than material recycling but without recovery of the components. Relevant for high-volume clients with budget constraints.