Ch

(1)

Around Easter in 2015, the small French village of Colmar started handing out free chickens to its residents. The aim of this experimental new scheme, (1)... , was to reduce food waste.

The project had been in the works for some time. The then-president of Colmar Agglomération (a role similar to a mayor), Gilbert Meyer, had been reelected in 2014 with the slogan "one family, one hen", (2) .... The following year the operation was launched, in partnership with two nearby chicken farms. Residents were encouraged to think of the free eggs – the effort put into raising a chicken would pay off quickly.

More than 200 homes in four municipalities signed up and (3)... – either red chickens (Poulet Rouge) or Alsace chickens, an old and local breed.

Each household signed a pledge committing to raising the chickens, with the understanding that the waste department could conduct welfare spot checks on the animals at any time. Henhouses were not provided; it was up to the residents to build or buy their own. The department ensured that each home had enough space for the hens – between 8 and 10 sq m (86 and 108 sq ft).

The scheme was a success – and is still underway. "Over the years, other municipalities have joined and since 2022 all 20 municipalities of the agglomération have participated," says Eric Straumann, current president of the Colmar Agglomération.

To date, 5,282 hens have been distributed to local residents, (4)... of distribution in June 2025. Not only have the residents received a plentiful supply of free eggs, (5)... as chickens are fed kitchen scraps which would otherwise be thrown away.

"Considering (6)... and that she consumes 150g (5.3oz) of bio-waste per day, we estimate that we have avoided 273.35 tonnes of bio-waste [since 2015]," says Straumann.

A. that a hen has a life expectancy of four years on average

B. and applications are currently open for the next round

C. launched by the waste collection department in the small village in north eastern France

D. and the chicken were eaten by them

E. were given two chickens each

F. but food waste has also been averted from landfill

G. however they would sell chicken

H. which aimed to encourage residents

(2)

Around Easter in 2015, the small French village of Colmar started handing out free chickens to its residents. The aim of this experimental new scheme, (1)... , was to reduce food waste.

The project had been in the works for some time. The then-president of Colmar Agglomération (a role similar to a mayor), Gilbert Meyer, had been reelected in 2014 with the slogan "one family, one hen", (2) .... The following year the operation was launched, in partnership with two nearby chicken farms. Residents were encouraged to think of the free eggs – the effort put into raising a chicken would pay off quickly.

More than 200 homes in four municipalities signed up and (3)... – either red chickens (Poulet Rouge) or Alsace chickens, an old and local breed.

Each household signed a pledge committing to raising the chickens, with the understanding that the waste department could conduct welfare spot checks on the animals at any time. Henhouses were not provided; it was up to the residents to build or buy their own. The department ensured that each home had enough space for the hens – between 8 and 10 sq m (86 and 108 sq ft).

The scheme was a success – and is still underway. "Over the years, other municipalities have joined and since 2022 all 20 municipalities of the agglomération have participated," says Eric Straumann, current president of the Colmar Agglomération.

To date, 5,282 hens have been distributed to local residents, (4)... of distribution in June 2025. Not only have the residents received a plentiful supply of free eggs, (5)... as chickens are fed kitchen scraps which would otherwise be thrown away.

"Considering (6)... and that she consumes 150g (5.3oz) of bio-waste per day, we estimate that we have avoided 273.35 tonnes of bio-waste [since 2015]," says Straumann.

A. that a hen has a life expectancy of four years on average

B. and applications are currently open for the next round

C. launched by the waste collection department in the small village in north eastern France

D. and the chicken were eaten by them

E. were given two chickens each

F. but food waste has also been averted from landfill

G. however they would sell chicken

H. which aimed to encourage residents

(3)

Around Easter in 2015, the small French village of Colmar started handing out free chickens to its residents. The aim of this experimental new scheme, (1)... , was to reduce food waste.

The project had been in the works for some time. The then-president of Colmar Agglomération (a role similar to a mayor), Gilbert Meyer, had been reelected in 2014 with the slogan "one family, one hen", (2) .... The following year the operation was launched, in partnership with two nearby chicken farms. Residents were encouraged to think of the free eggs – the effort put into raising a chicken would pay off quickly.

More than 200 homes in four municipalities signed up and (3)... – either red chickens (Poulet Rouge) or Alsace chickens, an old and local breed.

Each household signed a pledge committing to raising the chickens, with the understanding that the waste department could conduct welfare spot checks on the animals at any time. Henhouses were not provided; it was up to the residents to build or buy their own. The department ensured that each home had enough space for the hens – between 8 and 10 sq m (86 and 108 sq ft).

The scheme was a success – and is still underway. "Over the years, other municipalities have joined and since 2022 all 20 municipalities of the agglomération have participated," says Eric Straumann, current president of the Colmar Agglomération.

To date, 5,282 hens have been distributed to local residents, (4)... of distribution in June 2025. Not only have the residents received a plentiful supply of free eggs, (5)... as chickens are fed kitchen scraps which would otherwise be thrown away.

"Considering (6)... and that she consumes 150g (5.3oz) of bio-waste per day, we estimate that we have avoided 273.35 tonnes of bio-waste [since 2015]," says Straumann.

A. that a hen has a life expectancy of four years on average

B. and applications are currently open for the next round

C. launched by the waste collection department in the small village in north eastern France

D. and the chicken were eaten by them

E. were given two chickens each

F. but food waste has also been averted from landfill

G. however they would sell chicken

H. which aimed to encourage residents

(4)

Around Easter in 2015, the small French village of Colmar started handing out free chickens to its residents. The aim of this experimental new scheme, (1)... , was to reduce food waste.

The project had been in the works for some time. The then-president of Colmar Agglomération (a role similar to a mayor), Gilbert Meyer, had been reelected in 2014 with the slogan "one family, one hen", (2) .... The following year the operation was launched, in partnership with two nearby chicken farms. Residents were encouraged to think of the free eggs – the effort put into raising a chicken would pay off quickly.

More than 200 homes in four municipalities signed up and (3)... – either red chickens (Poulet Rouge) or Alsace chickens, an old and local breed.

Each household signed a pledge committing to raising the chickens, with the understanding that the waste department could conduct welfare spot checks on the animals at any time. Henhouses were not provided; it was up to the residents to build or buy their own. The department ensured that each home had enough space for the hens – between 8 and 10 sq m (86 and 108 sq ft).

The scheme was a success – and is still underway. "Over the years, other municipalities have joined and since 2022 all 20 municipalities of the agglomération have participated," says Eric Straumann, current president of the Colmar Agglomération.

To date, 5,282 hens have been distributed to local residents, (4)... of distribution in June 2025. Not only have the residents received a plentiful supply of free eggs, (5)... as chickens are fed kitchen scraps which would otherwise be thrown away.

"Considering (6)... and that she consumes 150g (5.3oz) of bio-waste per day, we estimate that we have avoided 273.35 tonnes of bio-waste [since 2015]," says Straumann.

A. that a hen has a life expectancy of four years on average

B. and applications are currently open for the next round

C. launched by the waste collection department in the small village in north eastern France

D. and the chicken were eaten by them

E. were given two chickens each

F. but food waste has also been averted from landfill

G. however they would sell chicken

H. which aimed to encourage residents

(5)

Around Easter in 2015, the small French village of Colmar started handing out free chickens to its residents. The aim of this experimental new scheme, (1)... , was to reduce food waste.

The project had been in the works for some time. The then-president of Colmar Agglomération (a role similar to a mayor), Gilbert Meyer, had been reelected in 2014 with the slogan "one family, one hen", (2) .... The following year the operation was launched, in partnership with two nearby chicken farms. Residents were encouraged to think of the free eggs – the effort put into raising a chicken would pay off quickly.

More than 200 homes in four municipalities signed up and (3)... – either red chickens (Poulet Rouge) or Alsace chickens, an old and local breed.

Each household signed a pledge committing to raising the chickens, with the understanding that the waste department could conduct welfare spot checks on the animals at any time. Henhouses were not provided; it was up to the residents to build or buy their own. The department ensured that each home had enough space for the hens – between 8 and 10 sq m (86 and 108 sq ft).

The scheme was a success – and is still underway. "Over the years, other municipalities have joined and since 2022 all 20 municipalities of the agglomération have participated," says Eric Straumann, current president of the Colmar Agglomération.

To date, 5,282 hens have been distributed to local residents, (4)... of distribution in June 2025. Not only have the residents received a plentiful supply of free eggs, (5)... as chickens are fed kitchen scraps which would otherwise be thrown away.

"Considering (6)... and that she consumes 150g (5.3oz) of bio-waste per day, we estimate that we have avoided 273.35 tonnes of bio-waste [since 2015]," says Straumann.

A. that a hen has a life expectancy of four years on average

B. and applications are currently open for the next round

C. launched by the waste collection department in the small village in north eastern France

D. and the chicken were eaten by them

E. were given two chickens each

F. but food waste has also been averted from landfill

G. however they would sell chicken

H. which aimed to encourage residents

(6)

Around Easter in 2015, the small French village of Colmar started handing out free chickens to its residents. The aim of this experimental new scheme, (1)... , was to reduce food waste.

The project had been in the works for some time. The then-president of Colmar Agglomération (a role similar to a mayor), Gilbert Meyer, had been reelected in 2014 with the slogan "one family, one hen", (2) .... The following year the operation was launched, in partnership with two nearby chicken farms. Residents were encouraged to think of the free eggs – the effort put into raising a chicken would pay off quickly.

More than 200 homes in four municipalities signed up and (3)... – either red chickens (Poulet Rouge) or Alsace chickens, an old and local breed.

Each household signed a pledge committing to raising the chickens, with the understanding that the waste department could conduct welfare spot checks on the animals at any time. Henhouses were not provided; it was up to the residents to build or buy their own. The department ensured that each home had enough space for the hens – between 8 and 10 sq m (86 and 108 sq ft).

The scheme was a success – and is still underway. "Over the years, other municipalities have joined and since 2022 all 20 municipalities of the agglomération have participated," says Eric Straumann, current president of the Colmar Agglomération.

To date, 5,282 hens have been distributed to local residents, (4)... of distribution in June 2025. Not only have the residents received a plentiful supply of free eggs, (5)... as chickens are fed kitchen scraps which would otherwise be thrown away.

"Considering (6)... and that she consumes 150g (5.3oz) of bio-waste per day, we estimate that we have avoided 273.35 tonnes of bio-waste [since 2015]," says Straumann.

A. that a hen has a life expectancy of four years on average

B. and applications are currently open for the next round

C. launched by the waste collection department in the small village in north eastern France

D. and the chicken were eaten by them

E. were given two chickens each

F. but food waste has also been averted from landfill

G. however they would sell chicken

H. which aimed to encourage residents