How to get a free composter in 2026?

Composting is booming, and for good reason: it is an essential eco-friendly practice for reducing our organic waste.

The cost of compost bins can sometimes be a barrier to composting at home. But did you know that your local council may offer you a free compost bin?

With the obligation to sort bio-waste from January 1, 2024, many local authorities are implementing solutions to facilitate the transition, including the distribution of individual compost bins. Ceercle, the leading brand in vermicomposting, explains everything.

Why do town halls offer free composters?

On January 1, 2024, sorting biowaste will become mandatory for everyone. This advance stems from the law on the fight against waste and the circular economy, known as the AGEC law, enacted in 2020. To find out more about this regulation and its impact, read our article: 'Composting Mandatory in 2024'.

Now that the law has come into force, town councils are obliged to provide their residents with suitable solutions. Whether you live in a detached house or an apartment, your local authority can support you in this process by distributing free composters or subsidizing their purchase.

In this way, town councils encourage the composting of food waste, while reducing the volume of waste collected. An economical and ecological approach that benefits everyone!

Promulgated in 2020, the AGEC (Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy) law aims to reduce waste and promote the circular economy. It provides for the gradual end of single-use plastic, mandatory sorting of bio-waste from 2024, and encourages reuse, repair and recycling. It also requires manufacturers to be more transparent about the durability of their products, and reinforces their responsibility for waste management. A key step towards more sustainable consumption in France!

How can I get a free composter?

1. How to receive your free composter

Contact your local council to find out what local assistance is available. Visit your local council's website, where you'll often find a section dedicated to waste management, or call your local council directly.

Many local authorities organize distribution campaigns or information sessions on individual composting. In most cases, you need to register by filling in an online form.

2. Where can I pick up my free composter?

Free compost bins can be picked up at city hall, local collection points, or at events organized by local authorities. These may be traditional compost bins, such as plastic or wooden compost bins for people with gardens, or worm composters for people living in apartments. For example, the town halls of Tassin-la-Demi-Lune and Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon have distributed Ceercle worm composters Ceercle their residents.

Be sure to attend a training or information session if one is required.

What types of composters are available?

There are several models of composters available from town halls:

• Individual composters: Perfect for homes with gardens, available in plastic or wood.
• Vermicomposters: Ideal for apartment composting and small spaces
• Collective composters (like shared composters at the foot of buildings or in parks): A collective solution for residents of urban areas.

How can I get a refund for my composter?

If your local council does not yet distribute free composters, it may still be able to offer you financial assistance for the purchase of an individual composter. Some local authorities offer full or partial subsidies for the purchase of composters. Don't hesitate to contact your local council to find out about the conditions for reimbursement!

These grants are often conditional on the purchase of a suitable, high-performance composter.

Below is a map to help you find the aid available near you:
Credits interactive map: Thanks to Plus2Vers.

Did you know?
Many local authorities already subsidize the purchase of Ceercle compost bins. Check with your local authority to find out if this is the case. If not, you can submit a request to have your Ceercle refunded Ceercle

DIY: how to make a compost bin out of a garbage can?

Alternatively, you can make a low-cost composter from recycled materials. For example, turn a simple garbage can into a compost bin by drilling holes for ventilation and adding a lid. The result is a practical and economical composter for your food waste!

Adopt the compost attitude!

Ceercle to making our cities greener. Our Lyon-based startup works with local authorities to promote urban gardening and composting.

Two communities, Tassin-la-Demi-Lune and Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, organized free distributions of Ceercle worm composters Ceercle their residents. A total of 300 households in Tassin and 70 households in Sainte-Foy living in apartments received a complete kit including a compost bin, a bag of compost worms bred by us, a box of organic plants ready for planting, and training in vermicomposting.

Other communities support our initiative by offering subsidies for the purchase of Ceercle worm composters.

Together, let's compost at home and put some green on our balconies!