Go brown this week

As Ireland celebrates its fourth National Food Waste Recycling Week which runs until 8 June, new research highlights both the progress made in brown bin usage and the ongoing challenge of contamination.

With over 200,000 new brown bins rolled out nationwide since the start of 2024, bringing the total number of brown bin owners across Ireland to approximately 1.2 million, householders in Ireland are embracing food waste recycling.

However, a recent study of over 1,000 adults reveals that despite widespread brown bin usage, contamination remains a concern, potentially compromising the quality of compost and hindering efforts towards a circular economy.

The research, conducted by Empathy Research on behalf of MyWaste, Ireland’s official guide to managing your waste, found that while the vast majority of people use their brown bin (84%), confusion and occasional haste can at times lead to incorrect items being disposed of in the brown bin.

The study indicated that 33% of people nationally admit to knowingly putting incorrect items in their brown bin, a figure that rises to 50% amongst 18–34 year olds. In Munster, 31% admit to knowingly putting the incorrect item into their brown bin.

The research also highlights confusion about garden waste, with younger adults (18-34) mistakenly believing stones and barbeque coals can be composted. For those surveyed living in Munster, common items incorrectly placed in brown bins included general waste (20%), the plastic around vegetables (29%), soft plastics (21%), and food cartons (18%). This National Food Waste Recycling Week, MyWaste.ie is launching a new campaign to tackle this problem, focusing on both confusion and haste as key contributing factors.

The research also explored the reasons behind these mistakes. The primary reason cited for knowingly putting an item in their brown bin incorrectly was being in a hurry (38%), with lack of knowledge about what is accepted in the brown bin being the second most common reason (26%).

“It's fantastic to see so many households embracing the brown bin system,” said Pauline McDonogh, Resource Efficiency Officer at MyWaste. “However, contamination remains a challenge. We understand that sometimes it can be confusing, which is why we're providing clear and accessible information to help everyone use their brown bin correctly. Let's all remember: No Metal, No Glass, No Plastic Makes Our Brown Bin Fantastic!”

The brown bin service accepts all types of food including raw and cooked meat and fish, plate scrapings, along with fruit and vegetable peelings. Other items that can go into the brown bin include food-soiled paper napkins, paper towels, greasy pizza boxes as well as grass clippings and light garden waste, including hedge clippings, spent compost and dead plants.

Remember to remove all packaging from food waste and avoid adding large branches, stones, rubble, plastic plant pots, barbeque coals or other non-compostable materials from your brown bin.

To help combat contamination, MyWaste.ie offers these tips:

Take a minute: Being in a hurry is a major contributor to contamination. Slow down and double-check what you're throwing away.

Say no to bin intruders: Be aware of common contaminants like onion netting, flower bands, and plastic-wrapped vegetables. Remove these items.

Use compostable liners.