Food Waste

Household Food Waste 

Regulations have now been introduced to help increase levels of food waste segregation and recovery from domestic households in Ireland, thus reducing the amount of food waste sent for landfill disposal. From July 2013 you must use your brown bin for food waste or compost it at home.

The Household Food Waste & Bio-Waste Regulations 2015 require:

• Waste collectors to provide a separate bin and collection service for household food waste.
• Householders to segregate food waste from other waste and either present it for collection by an authorised collector or compost it at home.

Householders Must Not Put Food Waste In Their General Waste Bin.

Only compostable bags certified to EN 13432 (indicated on the packaging) should be used to line food waste bins (brown bin). Plastic bin liners/bags cannot be used as they contaminate the composting process.

There are many ways to reduce food waste and save money, for example by carefully planning menus and sticking to a shopping list, using freezers wisely, using leftovers creatively and controlling portion sizes.

Other ideas can be found on the Stop Food Waste website here.

More information on brown bins can be found on the My Waste website here.

Commercial Food Waste: Current Obligations

As of July 1, 2024, the Waste Management (Food Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 294 of 2024) impose a broad obligation on commercial premises where food waste arises to segregate this waste at source. 

All commercial premises must have a separate food waste collection service from an authorised waste collector unless specifically exempted (see below).

This robust framework ensures Ireland's compliance with the European Union Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC), which mandates that biowaste (including food waste) is either separated and recycled at source or collected separately, without being mixed with other waste types. The current regulations apply generally to any premises generating food waste, reflecting a comprehensive approach to food waste management across the commercial sector.

Key Obligations for Commercial Premises:

• Mandatory Segregation: All obligated commercial premises must now segregate their food waste at the point of generation. This means food waste must be kept strictly separate from other waste streams, such as general waste and dry recyclables.
• Dedicated Collection: Segregated food waste must be placed in a dedicated bin (commonly referred to as a "brown bin") for collection by an authorised waste collector.
• No Small Producer Exemption: The previous exemption for businesses producing less than 50kg of food waste per week has ceased. All commercial premises, regardless of the quantity of food waste produced, are now required to comply unless a specific, limited exemption applies.
• Authorised Treatment: Collected food waste must be directed to an authorised treatment process, such as composting or anaerobic digestion, ensuring it is recycled and diverted from landfill.
• Specific Exemptions:   The regulations do not apply to:

1. Category 1 and Category 2 animal by-products (which are governed by separate, stricter animal by-product legislation).
2. Food waste originating from a means of transport operating internationally.
3. Contaminated food waste from certain healthcare facilities that poses a risk to human or animal health, or is otherwise prohibited for food or feed use.
4. Off-shore islands (though local authorities may still have powers to implement relevant policies).
5. Food waste arising as a fraction of household waste.

Commercial entities are required to review their waste management practices to ensure full compliance with these regulations and maintain records for evidence purposes. For detailed guidance on your specific situation, please consult mywaste.ie or contact us at wasteenforcement@dlrcoco.ie