Be careful, the fine will double. Throwing waste on the public highway, a mask or a cigarette butt can be punished with a fine of 135 euros, against 68 euros currently, according to a draft decree. This was announced on Sunday by Secretary of State for the Ecological Transition Brune Poirson, confirming information from the Sunday Journal.
This draft decree, which concerns masks, gloves, cigarette butts and even wild refuse dumps, should be presented in mid-June. The fine could even go up to 375 euros, or even 750 euros if the police draw up a report and forward it to the court, according to the ministry.
Lots of new waste linked to the health crisis
This measure is part of the roadmap for the circular economy launched in 2018 and "finds a new echo with the Covid-19, with the multiplication of the number of new abandoned waste linked to the health crisis" instead to be thrown in the trash, said the ministry. It was proposed, in particular, by the deputy (LR) of the Alpes-Maritimes Eric Pauget.
"Everyone must understand that any waste thrown on the ground often ends up in the ocean," said Brune Poirson, in a statement. "If we want clean seas and oceans, it starts with clean sidewalks," continues the Secretary of State, who travels to Lège-Cap-Ferret, Gironde on Sunday, on the eve of World Oceans Day, for collecting plastic waste.
VIDEO. Masks spilled in the Mediterranean: "If you throw it on the ground, it ends up in the sea"
The ministry also plans to intensify its communication campaigns to encourage people not to throw the garbage anywhere.
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Several mayors have also decided to impose a fine for spitting on the street, in order to limit the possible spread of the virus.