Construction EPR: between regulatory hope and on-the-ground reality, an overhaul expected
A promising scheme in serious difficulty
Introduced in May 2023, the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for construction products and materials (PMCB) aimed at an ambitious goal: financing a large-scale collection and recycling system for construction waste. On paper, the scheme looked like a solid lever for the circular economy, in line with the principles of the AGEC law.
But almost two years into its implementation, the assessment is clear: results fall short of expectations. More than 6,000 collection points have opened in France, but access to them remains very uneven, and only 20% of waste volumes are reportedly actually collected through this network. Worse still, for certain waste categories (wood, metal, plaster), the collection rate is capped at 7%, according to figures from the Fédération Française du Bâtiment (FFB).
A real contribution, a failing service
Today, companies pay their eco-contributions to producer responsibility organisations (PROs), but struggle to see the benefits. The promise of free, operational waste collection runs into logistical obstacles, unclear communication and an organisation that is still immature. The Fédération du bâtiment is sounding the alarm: without better visibility on fee increases, and without genuine oversight of how collected funds are used, the construction EPR scheme is becoming a source of confusion, even frustration.
The situation is all the more concerning given that a government moratorium was announced in March 2025 to temporarily suspend certain obligations. While this moratorium opens a phase of consultation, it also raises doubts: will it lead to a genuine overhaul or merely cosmetic adjustments?
Consultation under way, but expectations remain high
The Ministry for Ecological Transition has confirmed the opening of a wide-ranging consultation with all stakeholders (companies, local authorities, PROs, unions). The goal: make the construction EPR scheme genuinely workable, adapted to real-world conditions and economically sustainable.
But for many businesses in the sector, this discussion phase must lead to a structural overhaul: fee transparency, shared governance, better distribution of responsibilities, digital tools to streamline management, and so on.
An opportunity to seize
Despite its chaotic start, the construction EPR scheme remains a fundamental initiative for the future of the sector and the environment. But for it to succeed, it will need robust tools, transparent governance and the commitment of all stakeholders.
At CompliancR, we are ready to support this transformation by placing compliance, simplicity and environmental performance at the heart of construction professionals' practices.
CompliancR: supporting construction professionals through EPR complexity
At CompliancR, we share this assessment: the construction EPR scheme is a work in progress, and its success depends on full control of data, automated processes and flawless traceability.
Our AI platform automatically identifies products subject to EPR, calculates eco-contributions by category and generates compliant declarations, whatever the scheme concerned. Thanks to centralised information and simplified management, construction companies can finally take back control of their EPR obligations and anticipate fee or regulatory changes.