Summer Travel, Rubbish Fines and Health Updates: News Digest

France’s electric car social leasing scheme is set to return, fines for incorrect rubbish disposal have increased, and landlords can note updates to a scheme designed to help them rent out properties to salaried tenants. There are also changes for Île-de-France transport tickets and summer sales dates have been confirmed. Meanwhile, travellers should remember that strike action is planned at Paris airports on the 18th of June, while hot weather, wildfire alerts and tougher phone-use penalties for drivers are also in the headlines. Here are the France headlines you need to know this week.

Electric car social leasing scheme to return in July

France’s electric car social leasing scheme will return for a new round from mid July. The scheme allows eligible households to lease an electric vehicle for at least three years, without being obliged to buy it at the end of the contract. To qualify, applicants must meet income conditions and use a personal vehicle for work-related journeys. In 2026, the monthly rent must be below €200 for at least 15,000km per year, although insurance, options and additional services are not included. Only new electric vehicles are eligible, and anyone who benefited from the scheme in 2024 or 2025 will not be able to apply again in 2026.

New support scheme for landlords renting to salaried tenants

Landlords in France can now benefit from updated support through the Louer pour l’emploi scheme, run by Action Logement. The scheme is designed to help property owners rent out their property to a salaried tenant, with Action Logement able to propose a suitable tenant and offer support such as the Visale guarantee, which can cover unpaid rent and rental damage. The scheme is open to eligible landlords with properties in mainland France or a French overseas department or region, although HLM bodies and certain social housing companies are excluded. The scheme has recently evolved to include grants of up to €1,000, which can be used either towards works, including energy diagnostics, or to help cover rental management fees where the owner delegates management to a professional. Landlords using the scheme must also respect controlled rent levels.

Rubbish sorting and illegal dumping fines increase

Residents in France are being reminded to check local waste collection and sorting rules after fines increased from the 5th of June. The standard fine for certain waste offences, including incorrect sorting, using an unsuitable bin, putting rubbish out at the wrong time or leaving waste at the foot of containers, is now €68. This can be reduced to €45 if paid quickly, or rise to €180 for late payment. If the case goes to court, fines can reach €450. Higher penalties can apply for abandoned waste in protected natural areas, and leaving a bin permanently in the street can lead to a fine of up to €750.

What to do with cardboard transport tickets in Île-de-France

Anyone with leftover cardboard transport tickets in Île-de-France should note that they are no longer sold, and have not been accepted on buses and trams since the 1st of May. They can still be used on the rail network, including the metro, trains and RER, until autumn 2026, depending on the ticket type. Unused cardboard tickets are not refundable, but they can be exchanged at RATP or SNCF counters and converted into their digital equivalent on a Navigo Easy pass. Exchanges are limited to five tickets per day, and the Navigo Easy pass itself costs €2.

Contactless bank card payments planned for the Paris transport network

Île-de-France Mobilités has confirmed that contactless bank card payments will be gradually introduced across the Paris public transport network. The system will allow occasional passengers to tap a bank card or smartphone directly on a validator instead of buying a ticket in advance.

The rollout will begin on the Orly airport link on metro line 14 from the 30th of June, followed by the Montmartre funicular in July. Wider deployment across metro, tram, RER and suburban rail lines will follow in phases, with the full network expected to be covered by 2030. Journeys paid for directly by card will carry a surcharge compared with standard fares.

100,000 discounted SNCF tickets for August go on sale

SNCF has launched a three-day flash sale offering 100,000 discounted train tickets for journeys in August. The sale runs from the 16th to the 18th of June, with tickets available for travel between the 3rd and the 31st of August.

Second-class fares are priced at €19, while first-class fares are priced at €29, across selected TGV INOUI and OUIGO services. The promotional tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable, and further summer offers are expected from the 22nd of June.

Summer sales dates confirmed across France

France’s 2026 summer sales will begin on the 24th of June and run until the 21st of July in most metropolitan departments. The official sales period begins at 8am, and online retailers must follow the same national dates, regardless of where the company is based.

Different dates apply in some areas, including Corsica, where the sales run from the 8th of July to the 4th of August, and several overseas territories. Service Public also reminds shoppers that sale items must have been offered for sale for at least one month before the sales begin, and retailers must clearly distinguish discounted items from non-discounted stock.

Paris airport strike reminder

Travellers flying through Paris should remember that a one-day ground staff strike is planned for the 18th of June. The action could affect Paris Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Le Bourget, with disruption most likely around check-in, baggage handling, aircraft turnaround times and airport queues.

Air traffic controllers are not expected to be involved, so widespread airspace disruption is less likely. Passengers flying to or from Paris that day should check directly with their airline before travelling and allow extra time at the airport.

More drivers face immediate licence suspension for phone use

Deux-Sèvres has become the eighth French department to introduce immediate licence suspensions for drivers caught using a mobile phone at the wheel. The department joins Landes, Oise, Lot-et-Garonne, Pas-de-Calais, Charente-Maritime, Ardèche and Vaucluse. Using a handheld phone while driving already carries a €135 fine and the loss of three licence points. In departments applying the tougher measure, drivers can also have their licence suspended immediately. More than 500 licences have reportedly already been suspended under the crackdown.

Hot weather and wildfire alerts return

Hot weather is returning across France, with temperatures rising sharply and parts of the country seeing highs of 30C or more. Some areas of the south-west, central France and the Rhône valley could see higher peaks, while forecasters have warned that heatwave thresholds may be reached if the hot spell persists.

The hot, dry weather is also increasing wildfire risk in parts of southern France. Météo-France placed several Mediterranean departments on elevated fire-risk alerts last week, with residents and visitors reminded to take care, avoid behaviour that could spark fires, and call 112 or 18 if they see a fire starting.

Lung cancer screening programme launched in five regions

A lung cancer screening trial has been launched in five regions: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Hauts-de-France, Île-de-France, Pays de la Loire and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. The Impulsion programme offers 100% coverage by Assurance Maladie for low-dose CT scans for eligible participants, alongside support to stop smoking. The trial is aimed at people aged 50 to 74 who currently smoke, or who stopped less than 15 years ago, and who meet certain smoking-history criteria. The aim is to detect lung cancer earlier and assess whether a wider national screening programme could be introduced.

Cadmium screening reimbursed for people at risk

From today, people who may be overexposed to cadmium because of where they live, or who are being monitored for chronic cadmium poisoning, can have screening tests reimbursed by Assurance Maladie. The test must be prescribed by a doctor and is carried out in a local laboratory. It is reimbursed at 60%, with the remaining cost generally covered by complementary health insurance, although the usual €2 flat-rate contribution applies.

Cadmium exposure may be linked to soil pollution from current or former industrial activity, but some areas also have naturally higher levels in the soil. Ameli lists Champagne, Charente, the Jura and the Causses as areas where naturally high cadmium levels can be found. People concerned about their commune can check GéoRisques for official information on polluted or potentially polluted sites, consult the état des risques provided during a property sale or rental, or contact their mairie, prefecture or ARS for local advice.

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