Obligation to take back DIY and garden items: where do you stand?

January^1, 2023 marked the start of the take-back scheme for DIY and garden items. The distributors concerned are now obliged to organize the collection of used items brought back by customers. We take stock!

What's your situation?

The law lays down various obligations, adapted to the configuration of each business.

If the surface area of your store is between ^200m2 and ^400m2

Or if, on delivery, your sales of these products exceed 100,000 euros excluding VAT:

You take back a product for the purchase of a new one, in store or via your delivery service.

If the surface area of your store is between 400^m2 and 1,000m2^:

You organize the return of products with external dimensions of less than 160 cm that do not require transport equipment, even if the customer has not made a purchase.

If the surface area of your store exceeds 1,000^m2:

You are obliged to organize the unconditional return of all items concerned, even if the customer has not made a purchase.

The trade-in always concerns items of the same type as those you are offering for sale.

I sell a wide variety of products. How do I find my way around?

If you offer your customers a wide range of products, such as furniture and toys, you need to estimate your floor space and sales for each category.

Do your customers and teams have everything in hand?

To make the return process as smooth as possible and ensure high-quality collection, Ecomaison provides you with a communication kit for clear, attractive in-store displays.

This kit includes, for your customers :

One 40×60 cm information poster;
The pre-collection terminal, H80 x W 30 x D 30 cm, with key collection information;
Optional: a 65 x 190 cm totem pole to place right next to the bollard for better visibility.

And for sellers:

An A4 memo to guide customers
An information note

We also offer pre-written content for insertion in all your distribution channels. Your well-informed customers will be your best allies!

Your steps for compliance :

Are you well equipped?

In addition to the collection point, Ecomaison supplies its partners with two 600 L pallet-boxes per outlet. How do you order them? Nothing could be simpler: go to the extranet.

If you have specific requirements for larger volumes, you can also request a tipper.

Collection scheme for DIY and garden items — Diagram of in-store collection for recycling and reuse

What about unsold stock?

No unsold goods in Ecomaison pallet-boxes! The AGEC law (anti-waste law for a circular economy) requires you to offer them to associations fighting against precariousness and social economy structures (ESS) to encourage their re-use.

Ecomaison makes it easy with its donation platform:

Discover the Ecomaison donation platform.
Find out more about partnerships with an SSE.

Have you found your rhythm yet?

Ecomaison is just a few clicks away from your warehouse, to collect the contents of your pallet boxes. With a 10-day turnaround time, it's a good idea to fill in your pick-up request on the extranet in good time! A good habit to adopt to avoid being overwhelmed.

If you have any questions, or would like to optimize any aspect of your organization for this new take-back obligation, don't hesitate to get in touch with your Ecomaison contract contacts. We're there every step of the way to facilitate change in favor of waste recovery.