Dechetterie Virgin

[Melissa_Smith_Hall]

I am in need of clearing out my place totally in preparation for returning to the US. My question is will the dechetterie take anything that is not suitable for donation; worn out clothing, old linens, too used kitchen accessories, old spices and half used toiletries? If so do they need to be emptied and sorted somehow?

[Porridge]

Some towns have places where you can put fabrics. Your Mairie will tell you.

We just bag stuff up and take it. We separate cardboard, and wood, and garden waste, and our déchèterie is keen on separating expanded polystyrene.

Best to check with the Mairie unless you’re one of the lucky ones who have unlimited tip trips.

[SuePJ]

@Melissa_Smith_Hall

worn out clothing, old linens,

There are large white bins (points de relais) into which you can put old clothes, linens etc and they will sort them - some they will reuse, others will get made into rags for other uses. Bag them in black bags. We have 2-3 of these in our local town.

@Melissa_Smith_Hall

used kitchen accessories

Sort if possible into metal and other (plastic/wood). Put the metal stuff in the skip for such in you local dechetterie. Plastic/wood put into a large sac and put in the “encombrants” skip.

@Melissa_Smith_Hall

old spices and half used toiletries? If so do they need to be emptied and sorted somehow?

If you have time, pour away the contents and put the small containers in your own household yellow topped recycling bin (un bagged). IF you don’t have the time, bag them for the decheterrie and put them in the “encombrant” skip.

Any harmful household products ( while spirit, sink deblocker, etc) if still with contents, keep separate and there will be a special place at the dechetterie where such products are collected.

Hope this helps. Dechetteries in France are really well organised - if in doubt ask the guy in charge where to put your stuff.

[JaneJones]

I agree with Sue, déchèterie people are generally helpful is you arrive with items sorted into categories.

The white point Relais bins for old clothes etc were overflowing badly, and still are, due to a completely justified strike. It has ended but in our area it’s taking time to clear the backlog.

https://reporterre.net/Le-Relais-met-fin-a-sa-greve-la-collecte-de-vetements-reprend

[Robert_Hodge]

Our local dechetteries have a website where advice is given about what and how to recycle.

Perhaps an online search may be helpful.

[Porridge]

I found greeting the déchèterie guys was respectful of people doing a good job and made them feel like I wanted to help them to help me.

I may have been the only Brit to wish them bonne année, which at least made me memorable.

[Adam1]

I take the odd bottle of Ricard for them.

For fourteen years now, I have never had to worry about what goes where

[George1]

@Melissa_Smith_Hall

worn out clothing

As an alternative to the white Relais bins, if you do have any saleable, usable, (ie non worn out) clothes, there may well be a local clothes bank (vestiaire) that would really welcome them. I volunteer at one, and every week people turn up with bags of mostly usable, saleable clothes. In many cases the clothes have been cleaned and sometimes even ironed, and can immediately be put out on racks for sale. Our vestiaire charges the princely sum of 20 centimes per item, whether a glamorous ball gown, or a pair of socks….

[ChrisMann]

@Porridge

I may have been the only Brit to wish them bonne année,

Good idea! You’re a bit late doing it in September though.

[JohnH]

Pas de tout, M Porridge is always ahead of the curve.

[Badger]

@SuePJ

There are large white bins (points de relais) into which you can put old clothes, linens etc and they will sort them

Whilst this is true we also have a different charity around here in 14500 that uses green bins for the same purpose.

Clearly, things may be different elsewhere, so @Melissa_Smith_Hall should have a close look. Such bins can be found in all kinds of places, not just at your déchetterie.