Cycling is now firmly established as a mean of transport in its own right. Deliveries are handled by couriers, who easily deliver 200kg of goods per round.
Many cyclelogisticians have developed their business around the collection of waste, cardboard and biowaste, in order to recycle waste.
This local and sustainable approach is becoming more widespread thanks to a number of highly committed players like Synchronicity, Oui Compost, Trivial Compost Carton Plein.
In fact, reverse logistics can make a return trip after delivery profitable for couriers whose main activity is not collection. According to K'livéo, biowaste collection using reverse logistics can make a 20/25% return on a journey initially planned to be empty.
The introduction of stricter regulations
Regulations are constantly evolving to promote the recovery of biowaste. Food and green waste can be turned into compost or biogas through methanization.
Composting is the process of converting waste in the presence of oxygen, so that it can be reused as a natural fertilizer by farmers and private individuals.
Methanization, on the other hand, is hermetically sealed and produces biogas, which can be used to generate electricity and heat, or to fuel vehicles with bioGNV!
Professionals have seen the minimum waste quantity threshold gradually lowered from 120 tonnes in 2012 to 5 tonnes per year from January 1, 2023. In other words, if a professional produces at least 5 tonnes of biowaste, he or she is obliged to recycle it, and therefore to make sure it is collected.
This obligation will change in 2024, applying to everyone, individuals and businesses alike, with no quantity threshold.
Once the waste has been sorted, it accumulates and begins to ferment. In addition to attracting pests, this fermentation has negative consequences for the environment. It releases methane into the air, a greenhouse gas which, according to the French Ministry of Ecology, has a warming capacity 25 times greater than CO2. That's why it's necessary to ensure their regular transport to a suitable treatment center.
Efficient collection: get the right equipment!
To increase the number of collection points and their frequency, bikes are becoming the preferred alternative to collection trucks in cities, thanks to their agility, low cost and ability to penetrate areas restricted to vehicles with combustion engines.
Many courier companies have integrated this service into their offering. In France for instance we have K’livéo Angers for Cocycler, Ardvina Mans, Green Phoenix and Sikle Strasbourg, Cycloposteurs Orléans, Oui Compost Lyon, Trivial Compost Besançon. RoValTerre Bourg-les-Valences, or the Détritivores Bordeaux.
In order to carry out their mission, collection operators need to be equipped with appropriate professional equipment. According to Planetoscope, over 570kg of organic waste is produced every second in France. This significant weight justifies the purchase of robust, high-capacity equipment.
Many players have chosen FlexiModal trailers, designed for intensive professional use and ideal for this type of collection
The Bicylift, this unique trailer with its patented lifting technology lifts heavy loads effortlessly. Combined with a pallet box, it can be exchanged from empty to full in a matter of seconds.
After Christmas, for example, GreenPhoenix collects Strasbourg's Christmas trees by bike.
Credit : Greenphoenix
The Runner by FlexiModal, with its mastered width of 89cm can also be used to collect waste in crates as does Radschaft, based in Bale, Switzerland. This association dedicated to the collection of biowaste strongly recommends the Runner for its activities.
As this activity is destined to become increasingly popular, particularly by bike, several collection scenarios can be envisaged:
If you collect from small restaurants or individuals who produce reasonable quantities of organic waste, you can operate a system of returnable crates, which you collect on each visit in exchange for an empty crate. In this case, you have three options :
1) The Runner : perfect if you operate in congested areas
2) The BicyLift flatbed : ideal if you trasnport several types of flows (half pallets, bulky parcels, etc).
3) A round with a pallet crate allowing each player to empty their waste in it.
If you collect from professionals producing large quantities of waste (restaurants, hotels, etc.), you may choose to operate with a pallet box, which you pick up on demand once the box is full. In this case, the best solution is the Bicylift with its fork, which can handle pallets and palletboxes with 3 skids for 190kg payload excluding pallet weight.
Go further
Bike waste collection applies to all types of waste: cardboard, plastic, green waste, bulky items, batteries, etc..
Synchronicity, a major player in waste management in Marseilles, points out that cities allocate an average of 70% of their budget to waste management, making it the 2nd largest item of expenditure for municipalities and local authorities.
For Synchronicity, 100 clients = 200k€ turnover. It it therefore a model that's easy to copy and make profitable.
Players like Carton Plein, a Parisian social integration association, collects waste with the beneficiaries of its social program. Carton Plein employees, who initially collected only cardboard, have become true cyclelogisticians, collecting other types of waste (plastics, bio-waste) which are then recycled by their partner.
Cycling is an excellent means of teaching and learning. That's how the Precious Plastic Touraine raises awareness among the younger generation. Thanks to a tailor-made Runner it organizes travelling workshops in schools and leisure centres.
In the same way, other logisticians are building their business around waste recovery, like Colis Cyclette Carpentras
Credit : Colis Cyclette
Collection biowaste : perpectives and suitable equipment