The small bathroom trash can, this discreet container that you empty without thinking too much, happily mixing makeup remover cotton, empty toothpaste tube and finished shampoo bottle. A habit so ingrained that we don't even imagine that it could cause a problem.
According to an Ipsos study cited by several specialist sources, 75,000 tonnes of cosmetic and hygiene product waste are thrown away each year by the French. A considerable volume which, logically, should largely pass through traditional recycling channels, since most of the bottles, tubes and packaging that make up this trash can are technically recyclable. Except that in practice, this is far from being the case: only 55% of French people say they systematically sort their bathroom waste, compared to 84% for all other household packaging in their home. A gap of almost 30 points which places this little piece in a category of its own.
The most revealing figure from this study does not concern so much the intention to sort as its actual implementation: among the French who nevertheless claim to sort their bathroom waste, only 21% would actually do it correctly. In other words, even among those who think they are doing the right thing, there is widespread confusion about what should go where: a plastic bottle of shower gel, a metal can of deodorant, or a carton of cream each follow different recycling routes, without this distinction always being clear. As a result, the bathroom remains, according to this data, the least well sorted room in the entire home, far behind the kitchen or living room where the sorting reflex is much more anchored.

What this task actually involves

Emptying and cleaning a bathroom or bedroom trash can involves removing the full bag, replacing it with a new one, and quickly disinfecting the inside of the container. Allow approximately 5 minutes for this task, a weekly schedule is generally recommended for this type of small trash can for personal use.

Tips and tricks for truly efficient sorting

Clearly distinguishing, upon purchase, two types of containers in the bathroom (one for traditional household waste, a second for recyclable packaging) exactly reproduces the system that certain eco-organizations have adopted to combat this confusion identified by the study: bottles, aerosol bombs and cardboard packaging on one side, cotton pads, wipes and non-recyclable products on the other.
If there is persistent doubt about a specific piece of packaging, it is better to throw it away with household waste rather than risk contaminating an entire batch of recyclable packaging with unsuitable waste: a conservative gesture which remains preferable to a sorting error which could compromise the recycling of objects that are however well oriented.
Cleaning the trash every time you change the bag, rather than waiting for a visible accumulation of residue, limits the appearance of odors and bacteria, particularly in a humid room like the bathroom where these microorganisms proliferate more easily than elsewhere.

With only 21% of French people actually sorting their bathroom well according to this study, despite a much broader stated intention, this small room deserves a little more attention when it's time to throw it away. Clearly distinguishing recyclable and non-recyclable from the trash, rather than mixing everything out of habit, remains the simplest gesture to bridge this gap between good will and good practices.