Comparative approach of the development of mechanical biological waste treatment between France and Germany

The European legal framework about solid waste has been considerably reinforced for more than a decade. One of the most important changes is the EC landfill directive (99/31/CE), which requires the reduction of organic matter in municipal solid waste going to landfill. In an attempt to solve this problem, Germany has developed since the middle of the 90's mechanical biological treatment (MBT). But this process has only been carried out for about three years in France. In Germany the main purpose of MBT is to stabilise residual waste and to recover a high calorific fraction, as compost production is only authorized for biowaste collected. In France, MBT aims at first to produce compost and then to yield energy with biogas from anaerobic digestion of residual household waste. That's why our paper will aim to show how legal frameworks, political, social, economic and territorial contexts could impact on the choice of some technologies and some processes for MBT. Finally, an analysis based on real cases will show the efficiency of MBT. / L'article réalise une comparaison du traitement mécano-biologique en France et en Allemagne. Il analyse les conditions réglementaires, d'organisation, d'exigences en qualité des sous-produits pour expliquer les différences technologiques observées dans chacun des pays.