Background

A report published by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2018 found that 70% of the contents of the average business or commercial waste bin could be diverted to recycling.

This represents a significant loss of potentially-recyclable material and an unnecessarily high cost to businesses, whose waste charges would be lowered by improved segregation.

Benefits

By improving waste segregation, the commercial/business sector would make a significant contribution to achieving EU recycling targets which have changed in an upwards trajectory over recent years.

Ireland faces targets under the EU Waste Framework Directive for recycling municipal solid waste (MSW) of 55% by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035.

The most recent figures from the EPA show that Ireland achieved a rate of 41% in 2020.

Eamon Ryan TD, Leader of the Green Party, and Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport has recently signed new legislation to change the current situation.

Incentivised charging for waste collection in the commercial sector will come into effect on July 1st 2023. This change to current legislation requires waste collection companies in Ireland to provide a residual, mixed dry recyclable and bio-waste bin to any business or commercial customers they service.

The legislation aims to ensure that all commercial customers are placed onto a price plan that ensures that costs to the customer for dry mixed recyclables or bio-waste are less than the cost of disposal for municipal waste.

• Dry mixed recyclables materials include paper, cardboard, metal cans and plastic, which can then be put into one waste stream and be processed efficiently & effectively. 
• Bio-waste can be described as biodegradable garden and park waste, food and kitchen waste from households, restaurants, caterers and retail premises.

This change will align the commercial sector with the residential sector, for whom incentivised pricing has been in place since 2017.

The Waste Management (Collection Permit) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 will come into effect on 1 July 2023.

Ministerial Statement

Welcoming the regulations, Minister Eamon Ryan said: “Improved recycling of commercial waste will benefit not just the environment but will improve the viability of recycling infrastructure and reduce waste costs for business.” 

You can read the full press release here:

Just to say!

Please don’t place electrical waste including batteries, bulbs, cables and chargers in any waste bins. Waste Electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) should be recycled separately. There are many locations across Ireland including Recycle IT in Dublin 22 which accept old household electrical and electronic items for safe recycling. Recycle IT will accept both domestic and commercial electrical/electronic equipment.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is an award-winning not-for-profit social enterprise providing a collection and drop-off service for all types of waste electrical, electronic and metal items. Recycle IT offer drop-off and collection services to both homes and organizations in Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE which includes thousands of printers and we can help recycle yours!

Our electrical community collection service is provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT is supported by Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Leinster.

To speak with Recycle IT please call 01 4578321 or email us here

Visit our website www.recycleit.ie