Food Waste

We all do it!...

Have you got your Brown Bin for Food Waste Yet???

We all generate Food Waste whether it’s at home, in school, at work and when eating out.  Currently, nearly all this food waste is thrown in the bin and while some is composted most of it ends up in landfill.  On average, disposal of this food is costing the Irish household between €700 and €1,000 per year to dispose of this food via landfill.  Food waste is biodegradable and decomposes when it is placed in landfill.  It produces leachate, a polluting liquid and it also produces methane and other gases which are powerful Greenhouse agents negatively affecting our atmosphere and attributing to Climate Change. 

Visit www.stopfoodwaste.ie for details on how to order, shop, store and cook to create less food waste.

The EU Landfill Directive drives Irish Waste legislation. The Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009 were introduced by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in December 2009 and came into force on 1^st July 2010.  The Regulations impose a range of obligations on producers and collectors of this waste stream in order to try and divert this biodegradable food waste from landfill. 

If you are a commercial outlet, you are advised to visit the following links and make you and your business aware of the legal obligations placed on you:

• The Food Waste Regulations 2009 (PDF) - 172 kbs  
• A Summary Guide To The Food Waste Regulations (DOC) - 40 kbs  

The new regulations cover a broad range of commercial outlets, including shops, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, pubs and office canteens.  Producers of food waste are now obliged and required by law to segregate food waste, ensure that it is collected by an authorised/permitted waste collector and then recovered at an authorised/permitted recovery facility. 

An easy read Factsheet on the Commercial Brown Bin for your business can be viewed as follows:

Brown Bin Factsheet (PDF) - 1,243 kbs

For whatever sector you are in and what the Food Waste Regulations mean for you, select from any one of the following links:

• Canteen on Construction Site (PDF) - 1,229 kbs  
• Education Sector (PDF) - 1,230 kbs
• Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Other Health Care Premises (PDF) - 1,234 kbs
• Hot Food Outlets (PDF) - 1,406 kbs  
• Hotels (PDF) - 1,234 kbs
• Canteens in Offices, Industrial and other Commercial Buildings (PDF) - 1,233 kbs
• Public House (PDF) - 1,233 kbs
• Restaurants, Cafes, Bistros and Wine Bars (PDF) - 1,323 kbs  
• Shops and Supermarkets (PDF) - 1,237 kbs  
• State Buildings and Local Authority Offices (PDF) - 901 kbs

In addition to increasing national recycling rates, the purpose of the legislation is to comply with EU legislation.  The Landfill Directive requires all EU Member States to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill sites, in particular biodegradable waste , by a series of yearly, and increasingly stringent targets. 

Inspections and enforcement has commenced by the Environment Section of Sligo County Council to ensure compliance is achieved by all the affected sectors.  Ensure you are covered by putting the necessary measures in place and making yourself aware of your obligations by reading the various leaflets available on this site.