Clean streets in the historic city center

In the center of Quimper, a city where history and modernity come together, there was a challenge with waste collection. With 5 underground compactors, this French city changed its waste management and the street scene in 2024.

The challenge of the city center

The city center of Quimper faced several challenges. Waste collection points used aboveground containers. These quickly filled up, so a truck had to make daily trips. The result? High CO2 emissions, a disrupted street scene, and unhappy residents. This was especially true in the area around the impressive Saint-Corentin Cathedral, a tourist attraction where residents, businesses, and tourists come together.

Sidcon provided the solution by installing 3 compactors around the cathedral and 2 on Place Toul Al Laer. Thanks to the innovative compaction mechanism of the underground compactors, daily emptying is now a thing of the past. Peace and quiet has also returned to the narrow streets, where trucks were previously a source of annoyance.

Liveability and the environment first

In order to preserve Quimper’s historic character, the city had a specific request: the stones surrounding the underground containers had to match the existing paving perfectly. Sidcon provided a seamless finish to preserve the character.

And that’s not all. The containers are equipped with smart technology, such as fill level sensors. According to Daniel Le Bigot, vice-president of Quimper Bretagne occidentale, responsible for waste management, this offers additional benefits: “These underground compactors can hold 4 times more waste because they are equipped with a compaction system. There is also a sensor that measures the fill level. This allows Véolia to plan its collection rounds based on how full the containers are.” (Read the full article here)

The impact was immediately noticeable: cleaner streets, less nuisance, and a better experience for residents and visitors. The success did not go unnoticed. At the end of 2024, Quimper decided to order another 5 underground compacting containers, which will be installed in the course of 2025.

"These underground compactors can hold 4 times more waste because they are equipped with a compaction system. There is also a sensor that measures the fill level. This allows Véolia to plan its collection rounds based on how full the containers are."