Collection Systems in Ireland 🇮🇪
About
Ireland uses a color-coded bin system with green for recyclables, brown for organics, and black/grey for residual waste. Glass is typically collected via bring banks (bottle banks) rather than kerbside. A deposit return scheme (Re-turn) operates for beverage containers.
Collection Streams
Mixed Dry Recycling (Green Bin)
What goes in:
- Paper (packaging + non-packaging): newspapers, magazines, junk mail, envelopes, office paper + paper bags/boxes
- Cardboard (packaging): cereal/food boxes, packaging boxes (clean & dry)
- Cartons (packaging): milk & juice cartons / beverage cartons
- Plastic packaging: plastic bottles + rigid tubs/trays (packaging) except black trays
- Soft plastic packaging/film: bread bags/wrappers, carrier bags, crisp wrappers, bubble wrap, etc.
- Metal packaging: steel food tins & aluminium drink cans (packaging)
What does NOT go in:
- Glass bottles & jars (packaging) (usually not in the recycling bin)
- Food/organic waste (use brown bin)
- Soiled recyclables (e.g., greasy paper/card, food-contaminated items)
- Black rigid plastic food trays (excluded)
- Metal objects (non-packaging) like pots/pans
- Textiles/clothes (non-packaging)
- Hazardous/WEEE (e.g., batteries, aerosols, electrical items)
Notes:
- Key rule: recyclables should be mixed, dry; soft plastics are now accepted and should be put in clean, dry and loose
- Black plastic trays are specifically excluded from the 'rigid food packaging' category
- Food tins are not subject to the DRS and should go in the recycling bin clean, dry and loose; metal lids and caps can also go in the recycling bin
Glass (Bring Bank / Bottle Bank)
What goes in:
- Glass bottles & jars (packaging): clear/green/brown glass (separate by colour where required)
What does NOT go in:
- Not accepted in bottle banks: ceramics/delph, tiles, mirrors, window/flat glass, Pyrex, drinking glasses
Notes:
- Ireland commonly uses bring banks for household glass
- MyWaste notes labels don't need to be removed (they're removed during processing)
- Some areas have textile banks alongside bottle banks
- Do not leave items beside banks (treated as littering/illegal dumping locally)
Brown Bin (Food & Garden Waste / Organics)
What goes in:
- Food waste (non-packaging): raw & cooked food, meat & fish, dairy, bread, coffee grounds/tea bags, eggshells, plate scrapings
- Food-soiled paper (non-packaging): kitchen roll/tissue, paper napkins, pizza boxes
- Light garden waste (non-packaging): grass/plant clippings, twigs, small branches
- Compostable packaging (packaging) ONLY if certified EN 13432 (e.g., some takeaway cups/bowls/cutlery)
What does NOT go in:
- Packaging that isn't compostable: plastic, glass, metal packaging (remove from food first)
- Plastic bags/bottles/tubs/trays, glass bottles & jars, tin cans, nappies, soil & stones, cardboard (as a rule for the food waste caddy/bin), ashes/coal/cinders, pet waste/litter
Notes:
- National guidance stresses: remove all packaging from out-of-date food before putting food in the brown bin
- Compostable packaging must be EN13432-certified—if in doubt, don't put it in
Residual / General Waste (Black/Grey Bin)
What goes in:
- Only items that cannot be recycled or composted, e.g.: floor sweepings (non-packaging); contaminated items (any material); broken crockery (non-packaging); nappies & wet wipes (non-packaging); soiled aluminium foil/containers (packaging, contaminated); non-compostable disposable cups; composite/inseparable items (e.g., blister packs with plastic + foil)
What does NOT go in:
- Recyclables and organics should not be here (paper/cardboard/plastic packaging/metals/food waste etc.)
- Hazardous waste (e.g., batteries, aerosols), WEEE (electrical/electronic waste)
Notes:
- MyWaste emphasises the residual bin is only for what cannot be recycled/composted
- Aerosols: MyWaste classifies aerosols as hazardous waste and says they cannot be placed in the household recycle bin (bring to civic amenity site)
Deposit Return Scheme (Re-turn)
What goes in:
- Eligible drinks containers (packaging): PET plastic bottles + aluminium/steel cans 150ml to 3L, with the Re-turn logo (returned empty/undamaged; barcode legible)
What does NOT go in:
- Not included: glass drinks containers; dairy drinks containers
Notes:
- This is in addition to household recycling
- If you put an in-scope container in your recycling bin, it may still be recycled, but you'll lose the deposit
- Drink cans covered by DRS: you can still recycle them, but you may prefer to return them for the deposit (Re-turn)
Sources:
What Gets Collected
Accepted Items
- • Packaging materials (varies by stream)
- • Empty and clean containers
- • Material-specific items
Not Accepted
- • Non-packaging items
- • Contaminated materials
- • Hazardous containers with contents
Regional Variations
Collection systems in Ireland may vary by municipality or region. Local sorting capabilities, collection infrastructure, and acceptance criteria can differ significantly even within the same country.
Important Notes
Ireland uses bring banks (bottle banks) for glass collection rather than kerbside glass bins
The deposit return scheme (Re-turn) is separate from municipal recycling—return eligible containers for a refund
Aerosols are classified as hazardous waste and should be taken to civic amenity sites, not placed in recycling bins
Black plastic trays are specifically excluded from recycling—use residual bin for these
Sources
Collection system information is based on national and regional guidelines. For the most current and location-specific information, consult local waste management authorities.