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The Environment and Recreation Directorate is responsible for the delivery of the following services: Water &  Drainage (on behalf of Irish Water), Waste Management Waste Operations and Recreation & Sport . Our approach to care for the Environment is based on the principle of sustainable development i.e. “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Cork City Council, in its role as a provider of services such as waste collection, recycling facilities, water and drainage can undertake measures to protect the environment we live in, nevertheless there is a duty on everybody to make their contribution in the area of environmental care.

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Food Waste Regulations

Commercial Food Waste

Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations (SI 508 of 2009) entered into force in Ireland on 1 July 2010. The Regulations require all major producers of food waste to place it in a dedicated bin and ensure it is not mixed with other waste. 

A brown bin collection service must be used so that the collected food waste is subsequently recycled by composting or by other approved recycling process.  Alternatively, businesses affected by this legislation can transport the food waste directly to a recycling plant or can treat it themselves by installing a properly authorised composting unit on the premises where the waste is generated.

Household Food Waste

Household Food Waste Regulations

The European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-waste) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 71 of 2013) promote the segregation and recovery of household food waste in line with national policy and Waste Framework Directive objectives.  They are designed to maximixe the resource which can be extracted from waste and minimise the disposal of waste.

The Regulations will facilitate the achievement of the targets set out in the Landfill Directive (Directive 99/31/EC) for the diversion of biodegradable municipal waste from landfill sites, by directing source-segregated household food waste to composting and to other forms of treatment.

The Regulations impose obligations on householders and waste collectors as follows:

• Householders: are obliged to segregate their food waste, and make it available for separate collection. Alternatively they may compost their food waste at home; or bring it to an authorised treatment facility (such as a civic amenity or anaerobic digestion site) themselves.
  Householders are not allowed to dispose of food waste in the residual waste collection service (the Black Bin).
• Waste collectors: are obliged to provide a separate collection service for household food waste.

If you need assistance with how to use your food waste (brown) bin please contact your waste contractor or access the information provided for householders on www.brownbin.ie.  For useful guidance and tips on how to minimise the amount of food waste you create and potentially save money on your weekly food shop, please check out www.stopfoodwaste.ie.

The European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-waste) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 71 of 2013)  View Regulations