In Haute Gironde, eight municipalities are leading the revolt against the new waste collection

“But we are not alone in this opposition. We are supported by 43 municipalities of Fronsadais and Saint-Emilionnais who wrote to the president of Smicval on October 25 to indicate their refusal to apply the reform as it stands. Of the 137 municipalities in the Smicval sector, that makes 51 municipalities plus Galgon and Pleine-Selve (which had already expressed their hostility, Editor's note). And if we add to that the municipalities of Cali which obtained a moratorium – minus the three or four favorable but held by union delegates – that makes 36 others. So more than half who are against,” argue Jean-Pierre Domens, the mayor of Saint-Vivien-de-Blaye, Arnaud Paillaud his deputy and Philippe Erémié, municipal councilor.

“A letter announcing the end of door-to-door canvassing as of December 20 has set things on fire”

Disagreement and satisfaction

This is a far cry from the satisfaction displayed by the union, in a press release, which evokes positive feedback, both from elected officials and residents in municipalities where door to door has no longer existed since October. 2023 (33 in total). The good consideration of people losing their autonomy and isolated people and the low proportion of tonnage collected at the base of the terminal by agents are highlighted. “They also demonstrate the concrete effects on the reduction in household waste and the quality of sorting of food leftovers which was a novelty for this area,” it is indicated.

And the Smicval highlights the refusal of dialogue of the eight aforementioned municipalities. “We were in the discussion until the arrival of this registered letter received at the end of September,” refute the three elected officials. This letter announcing the end of door-to-door knocking, whatever the situation, as of December 20 has ignited the powder. “They refused our request for a moratorium, so we considered that the time for discussion was over,” they continue. “I was going to go there until I received this letter,” adds Jean-Franck Blanc, the mayor of Teuillac. The collective of eight municipalities thus requested the services of M^e Laveissière, president of the lawyers of the Bordeaux bar, to launch a litigation appeal with the administrative court of Bordeaux.

Brutality

While awaiting the results of the legal action, the “rebels” intend to give nothing away. “We are calm, this is in line with the service commitments we have made to our citizens. » If the reform raises eyebrows, it is for several reasons. Firstly because the elected officials of Saint-Vivien, Jean-Franck Blanc and Alain Montangon, the mayor of Gauriaguet, consider that this is a forceful move. They denounce the brutality of the announcement. “I learned about it from the press,” recalls Alain Montangon. Then they point out the loss of public service. Thus, opponents point out that the general community code stipulates that the elimination of door-to-door collection must be compensated by collection at an equivalent level of public service, as well as in terms of public health and the environment. For them, the account is obviously not there.

“It is a dogmatic reform which does not take into account the reality of the territory”, they say from the Saint-Vivien side. The reality is the difference between cities (Blaye, Saint-André) and the countryside, “between walking 50 meters to carry your trash or being forced to take your car and travel miles. In Saint-Vivien, for example, there is no town center, only hamlets.” “I proposed a mixed solution,” says Alain Montagon. Jean-Franck Blanc fears an increase in illegal dumping. However, everyone says that there are things to do to better manage and reduce waste. “If we share the observation, we challenge the method,” say the Vivien elected officials.