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The French end-of-life recreational boat treatment sector is already preparing for the 2027 deadline. APER, a state-approved eco-organization for the extended producer responsibility (EPR) system for waste from recreational and sports boats, is issuing a call for bids to select companies that will manage end-of-life vessels throughout the country, including in the overseas departments, regions, and communities (DROM COM).
A nationwide consultation
The application period runs from June 15, 2026, to August 21, 2026. Successful candidates will carry out their assignments from 2027 to 2029.
This consultation aims to maintain a network of centers capable of receiving vessels that have been taken out of service. The goal is to ensure sufficient geographic coverage to minimize transport distances and facilitate the return of vessels by their owners.
From a Scrapped Boat to Material Recycling
The selected service providers will be responsible for the entire processing chain.
Their mission begins with the receipt of vessels at specialized centers. It continues with decontamination and then dismantling operations. The waste generated by the dismantling must then be directed to the various recovery or recycling streams.
This stage has become a major challenge for the recreational boating industry, particularly for boats built from composite materials, whose end-of-life management remains a complex technical issue.
Traceability at the Heart of the System
In addition to the physical demolition work, the request for proposals also requires careful administrative oversight.
Companies will be required to ensure the traceability of waste streams and to report on the operations carried out. This data allows the environmental agency to track the volumes processed and evaluate the performance of the EPR system.
A schedule that has already been set
The schedule includes three main steps:
- June 15, 2026: Start of the consultation period and distribution of the application materials.
- August 21, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.: Application deadline.
- November 30, 2026: Announcement of the selected companies.
Interested candidates must contact APER to obtain the terms of reference and the documents needed to prepare their application.
