Cigarette butts and street ashtrays: the government sanctions the eco-organization Alcome

The Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion announced that it had issued a daily financial penalty decision against the eco-organization Alcome, responsible for the prevention and management of cigarette butts on behalf of tobacco producers. This sanction follows Alcome's delay in providing financial support for street ashtrays.[1].

Delay in financial support for the installation of street ashtrays

By the end of 2023, the eco-organization, in accordance with its obligations, must have financed street ashtrays in communities with at least 50% of the national population. However, given the observed absence of contracts relating to the financing of these ashtrays, the Ministry reports a "refusal by the eco-organization to […] produce within the time limits the elements allowing it to financially support local authorities for the acquisition and installation of street ashtrays of their choice". Consequently, the amount of this penalty is set progressively, at 100 euros per day for the month of November, and 7,500 euros per day from December 1. Through this gradation, the Ministry aims to "encourage the eco-organization to regularize the situation as soon as possible"[2].

90% of the population should be covered by 2025 by Alcome

Following the appeal to the Council of State initiated by the Federation of Cigar Manufacturers against the specifications of the eco-organization, Alcome must finance the installation of collective ashtrays, and not provide ashtrays of its choice. This provision gives more latitude to communities, by giving them the possibility of choosing ashtrays more suited to their street furniture. Furthermore, while the first specifications did not give any fixed objectives regarding urban ashtrays, the second version toughens the system. Indeed, the eco-organization is required to cover at least half of the French population by the end of the year, 75% by the end of 2024 and 90% by 2025. More specifically, the second version of the specifications requires Alcome to take the necessary actions "so that the number of communities and their groupings having contracted with it represents at least 50% of the national population" by December 31, 2023. However, it is precisely this minimum number of contracts that the Ministry deplores the absence of.

Tobacco industry reluctant to adopt street ashtrays

For her part, Alcome's CEO, Marie-Noëlle Duval, mentioned that the eco-organization will be able to have local authorities that request it sign by January 2024. As reported by the Actu Environnement website, Alcome also stressed that it was necessary to define models of ashtrays, in order to then recommend them to elected officials in local authorities. A study was commissioned to this effect from the Deloitte firm, in order to evaluate the 2,000 ashtrays and extinguishers already made available by the eco-organization. The delay taken by Alcome on the issue of street ashtrays echoes the standoff that began in 2021 between the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion and the tobacco industry, at the time of drafting Alcome's specifications, the latter having sought to limit this obligation as much as possible, deemed too onerous.

Keywords: Cigarette butts, Alcome

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