Everyone in Ireland will be entitled to brown bin collection from the new year. 

A brown bin can be used to dispose of various types of waste - including raw and cooked food, paper towels, pizza boxes, grass clippings and light garden waste. 

Currently, only 70% of Irish households have one but EU law means provision will become mandatory in 2024. 

“Up until now, households that are based in more rural parts of the countries, in areas with populations of less than 500 people, have not been entitled to this service of a brown bin for their food waste,” MyWaste.ie spokesperson Pauline McDonogh said. 

“From January 2024, all households, regardless of where they are on the island, will receive a service.”

Ms McDonogh said anyone who currently does not have a brown bin but would like one, should contact their waste provider. 

“That collector will then be able to advise them of when the service will be coming to their area directly,” she said. 

“We all know every household has a waste collection service with their provider and… they can advise when the service will start.” 

Mandatory targets

Ireland currently recycles 41% of municipal waste but will be obliged to recycle at least 55% by 2025. 

The EPA have said the amount of waste in Ireland is growing at a rate that it is “beginning to undermine our recycling rates”.

Main image: A man putting waste in his brown bin. Picture by: Alamy.com