Les Baladins
Chez Jez · Brittany, France
Bringing sustainable food waste management to French hospitality
Les Baladins is a beloved bar, restaurant and pizzeria in the heart of Brittany, France — a community staple serving locals and visitors with generous French and Italian cuisine. With daily food preparation across a full kitchen, the restaurant generates a consistent volume of organic waste that previously required costly off-site disposal.
In 2024, Les Baladins partnered with Econova Technologies to install the S-25 composter — a compact, fully automated on-site solution that converts kitchen waste into nutrient-rich compost within 24 hours, eliminating disposal fees and aligning the restaurant with France's growing sustainability regulations.
Econova S-25 composter installed at Les Baladins, Brittany, France — 2024
The Challenge
- Daily kitchen waste from a full-service bar, restaurant and pizzeria requiring frequent off-site collection
- Rising waste disposal costs making sustainable on-site alternatives increasingly attractive
- France's AGEC Law and EU food waste directives creating regulatory pressure to reduce organic waste sent to landfill
- Limited space for large-scale waste infrastructure within a working kitchen environment
- Staff time lost managing waste separation, storage and collection coordination
The Solution
- Econova S-25 in-vessel composter — compact footprint, ideal for small and mid-size restaurant kitchens
- 25 kg (55 lbs)/day capacity covers the full daily organic waste output of the kitchen
- Fully automated 24-hour cycle — staff simply load waste and the machine does the rest
- 90% volume reduction means dramatically less waste to store, handle or dispose of
- Produces nutrient-rich compost usable in local gardens, reducing external input costs
France's Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy (AGEC) Law and EU Directive 2008/98/EC place increasing obligations on food service operators to reduce organic waste at source. On-site composting is a recognised best practice — enabling businesses like Les Baladins to comply with evolving regulations while cutting costs and demonstrating environmental responsibility to their community.
Environmental
- Virtually all kitchen food waste diverted from landfill and off-site disposal
- Nutrient-rich compost produced daily for local gardens and green spaces
- Carbon footprint reduced by eliminating waste collection vehicle trips
- Supports compliance with France's AGEC law and EU organic waste directives
Operational & Financial
- Estimated $350/month savings on waste collection and disposal fees
- Full return on investment within 12–18 months of installation
- Fully automated — no dedicated staff time or specialist knowledge required
- Compact S-25 footprint fits existing kitchen or back-of-house space
"Before Econova, food waste was something we dealt with every day — bags, smells, collection schedules. Now it disappears into the machine overnight and comes out as compost. Simple, clean, and it saves us money every month."
— Owner, Les Baladins, Brittany, France
| Product | Econova S-25 In-Vessel Composter |
| Capacity | 25 kg / 55 lbs per day |
| Customer type | Bar, Restaurant & Pizzeria |
| Location | Brittany, France |
| Installed | 2024 |
| Cycle time | 24 hours |
| Est. monthly savings | ~$350 |
| Est. ROI period | 12–18 months |
The Right Solution for Every Kitchen — Large or Small
Econova composters range from 25 kg (55 lbs) to 4,400 kg (9,700 lbs) per day, scaling from a single restaurant kitchen to a full resort or institutional facility.
All logos are the property of their respective owners. The composting unit was supplied by a sister concern of Econova Technologies.