Reducing waste (2024)

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Why should I reduce waste?

How can I reduce household waste?

Irish households produce approximately 1.5million tonnes of waste each year. Nearly half of this rubbish is generalwaste, which is collected from black bins and goes to landfill. Only a quarterof this waste is collected from our green and brown bins to be recycled orcomposted.

There are a number of things you can do to reduce waste at home and preventyour rubbish from going to landfill. These include:

Recycle, reuse, repair

Recycling is the process of collecting waste and turning it into othermaterials or objects that can be reused. When we recycle, we use less rawmaterials than when producing a new product, which reduces air pollution andimproves the environment. Recyclinghousehold waste can also reduce the amount you spend on waste collection,as many waste collectors have no restriction on the amount of waste you can putin your green and brown bins. But, there are generally thresholds for theamount you can put in your black bin, and excess charges apply if you go abovethis. You can also take your recyclable waste to a recycling facility to berecycled. Find out more about recycling inIreland.

The best way to reduce waste is not to produce it in the first place. So,reuse items whenever possible. For example, instead of buying plastic bottlesof water, use a reusable bottle and refill it at home or at a free drinkingwater tap. If you’re going shopping, bring your own reusable shoppingbags.

Instead of buying new items, try and repair the ones you have. For example,you could repair your clothes, furniture, bike or appliances. Information onhow to fix most things is available on the internet. Or, you can get a localprofessional to fix your items.

Another option is upcycling. This is reusing items you no longer want, tomake new products or materials of a higher value. It can be a fun and creativeway of reducing waste and breathing new life into old items.

Avoid food packaging

When you’re in the supermarket, avoid buying items with excessive plasticpackaging. In some supermarkets, you may be able to leave unwanted packagingbehind.

Choose fruit and vegetables that don’t come prepackaged and bring your ownbag to carry them home. Choose food items that come in recyclablecontainers.

Avoid single-use plastics

Single-useplastics (SUPs) are items that are used once, or for a short period oftime, and then thrown away. For example, straws, cotton bud sticks andpolystyrene food containers.

You should avoid using SUPs as they take a long time to break down and candamage the environment, particularly oceans. 70% of marine litter in the EUcomes from SUPs.

Since 3 July 2021, certain SUPs are banned from the Irishmarket.

Buy second hand

Buying second hand products will save you money. It also decreases thedemand for new items, which preserves natural resources. Cars, clothes,exercise equipment, furniture and books are all examples of items that can bebought and used second hand.

If you have items that you don’t want, instead of throwing them out, youcould donatethem to a charity shop. You could also donate or sell them through buy andsell websites or social media groups.

No junk mail sticker

Put a ‘No junk mail’ sign on your front door or post box. This will stopunwanted paper waste coming into your home, such as flyers, brochures and freenewspapers.

How can I reduce food waste?

The average Irish household produces 117kg of food waste each year, which isthe equivalent of approximately €700 of food.

Food waste also damages the environment. When it ends up in landfill itreleases methane, a greenhouse gas that is more harmful than carbon dioxide.

Here are some practical tips to reduce food waste:

Make a weekly meal plan and shopping list

Plan out what food you will need for the week and make a shopping list.Check the recipes of meals you plan to make. Your shopping list should onlyhave items on it that you will need and use. Take a photo of the contents ofyour fridge to remind you. Stick to the list as much as possible and avoidimpulse buying.

Keep an eye on dates

Passing use-by dates is the main reason people throw out food. Keep an eyeon dates and give yourself enough time to eat or freeze food.

Learn about ‘use-by’ and‘best-before’ date labels on food.

Freezing food

Another practicaltip for reducing food waste is freezing food. It makes food last longer andwill save you money.

Find out more about freezing food to reducewaste.

Composting

Composting is the process of recycling organic matter, such as food waste orleaves, naturally. Over time, the organic matter turns into a material calledcompost which is full of nutrients and can be added to soil in the garden orindoor plants.

You should compostyour food waste whenever possible, by using a brown bin service or by composting athome.

Find out more about composting.

How can I reduce waste at work?

Reducing waste at work is good for your organisation’s reputation and willsave money. There are also financialsupports for businesses going green.

Here are some tips for reducing waste in the office:

Choose digital over paper

Store information electronically, rather than on paper. It makes it easierfor employees to collaborate and is typically more secure. Paperless billingwill also reduce your carbon footprint and decrease operational costs.

Printing

Reduce paper waste by promoting environmentally friendly printing practices.For example:

• Put a ‘think before you print’ sticker on the printer
• Make ‘print both sides’ the default setting
• Use refillable toner cartridges
• Have a paper recycling bin within arm's reach of the printer

Equipment

Use durable office equipment with a long life-cycle. This will save youmoney in the long run and keep office equipment out of landfill for as long aspossible.

Segregate waste

Provide appropriate recycling bins and encourage staff to recycle correctly.Here’s a step-by-step guide to managingyour business waste (pdf). It includes resources, such as downloadableposters and bin labels, to help you reduce waste.

Wasteelectrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) must be recycled separately.

In the kitchen

If you have a canteen or a kitchen, provide reusable cutlery and cups foryour staff. Use non-toxic cleaning products. A water cooler connected to themains can significantly reduce plastic waste.

Further information

Read about the Environmental Protection Agency’s NationalWaste Statistics.

Find out about Ireland’s WasteAction Plan for a Circular Economy.

Calculate your carbon footprint.