Similar to recycling stations seen in many Italian cities and called "Trilib" after Paris' famous Velib bicycle sharing scheme, the stations take up about one parking space and can take gather several tonnes of paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, metal and textiles per month.

Eco-Emballages, a French recycling company funded by food and beverage producers such as Coca Cola and Nestle and retailers like Carrefour, will help finance and operate the system.

The 50,000 companies that are members of Eco-Emballages last year contributed 671 million euros ($717 million) to the firm, which uses the funds to help municipalities recycle.