What Goes In Your Brown Bin? Here’s Our ‘Sort It’ Guide.

Curious about what exactly belongs in your brown bin—and why it’s so important? Let’s break it down.

The brown bin is your go-to for organic waste, and recycling it properly offers huge benefits for your home, the environment, and your wallet.

Here’s what you can put in your brown bin:

All food waste — both raw and cooked, including meat, fish (and bones), plate scrapings, bread, cakes, dairy products, eggshells, fruit and vegetable peelings, and out-of-date food (just remove any packaging first)
Coffee grounds & tea bags, as well as coffee filters, provided they’re paper — but plastic-containing filters should go in general waste
Food-soiled paper items — like napkins, paper towels, food-stained sections of pizza boxes
Light garden waste — grass clippings, small twigs, cut flowers, and plant trimmings
Certified compostable packaging — such as compostable cups, bowls, and cutlery (look for the EN 13432 / ‘Seedling’ certification)

Why Recycle Your Food Waste?

Environmental Impact:
Diverting food waste from landfill drops methane emissions and helps protect ecosystems. Composting alongside anaerobic digestion turns waste into valuable compost and even green energy
Circular Economy Benefits:
By recycling organic waste, you help create compost essential for farming, landscaping, community gardens — closing the loop on a circular, sustainable economy
Compliance & Accessibility:
Since January 2024, every household in Ireland is entitled to a brown bin for food and garden waste. This change makes participation easier and helps meet national recycling targets
Cost Savings:
Less general waste means lower disposal costs—your brown bin helps keep black bin charges down. Also, forming good habits like separating waste can reduce overall waste production
Avoid Contamination:
Over 50% of household food waste in Ireland ends up in the wrong bin. Recycling correctly ensures it goes where it belongs—helping cut contamination and improving recycling efficiency

Quick Tips: Make the Most of Your Brown Bin

Set up a mini-system at home:
Use three separate bins inside (food, recycling, general waste). Keep the brown bin handy; make general waste harder to reach to encourage recycling
Use labels and visuals:
Label each bin with pictures or simple words to avoid confusion—even early mornings will go smoothly
Create ownership and awareness:
Assign someone to manage the bins—this fosters care, accountability, and minimises contamination
Track your progress:
Keep a visual log of how much you’re recycling—use tools like BinDex (CityBin’s recycling stat report) to stay motivated
Clean & maintain your bin:
Rinse occasionally with vinegar or newspaper liners to reduce odours and keep pests away.

Ready to Use Your Brown Bin?

Step 1: Collect food scraps, coffee grounds, soiled paper, small garden cuttings — just avoid packaging, plastics, and oils.
Step 2: Confirm everything is compostable—look for EN 13432 certification.
Step 3: Dump everything into your brown bin and keep it well-organised.
Step 4: Watch for collection day, and take pride in making a positive impact!

By adopting these simple practices, you’re not just maintaining a cleaner kitchen — you’re part of a greener solution that benefits your community, environment, and pocket.

Guaranteed Irish Visit to The City Bin Co. Recycling Centre in Oranmore

We were delighted to welcome Melissa from Guaranteed Irish to our Recycling Centre in Oranmore this week. Her visit gave us a great opportunity to showcase the significant improvements we’ve made at the facility over the past year.

The Oranmore Recycling Centre has been redeveloped, with upgrades that allow us to process more materials on-site than ever before. These enhancements mean that cardboard, brown bin materials, and construction & demolition waste can now be handled directly at the centre, cutting down on external transport and improving recycling rates. In fact, the site now processes over 25 tonnes of cardboard every week – material that might otherwise have gone to waste.

The redevelopment has also been about making recycling easier and more accessible for the local community. New services such as Wood, Paint, and Mattress recycling have been added, giving households and businesses even more convenient options to recycle responsibly.

Melissa saw first-hand how these improvements are not only helping the environment but also supporting the wider community. By processing more materials locally, we’re reducing carbon emissions, improving resource recovery, and creating a facility that Galway residents can rely on for everyday recycling needs.

As proud members of Guaranteed Irish, we share their values of supporting local communities, creating jobs, and driving sustainable practices. The visit was a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate how investment in local facilities like Oranmore can deliver real environmental and community benefits.

And remember, when you see the Guaranteed Irish ‘G’ on our website, mobile apps, trucks, bins, and other assets, it’s your sign that The City Bin Co. is a company rooted in Ireland, supporting Irish jobs, and committed to doing business the right way.

We’d like to thank Melissa and the Guaranteed Irish team for their continued support, and we look forward to working together as we build on our mission to make recycling simpler, smarter, and more sustainable for everyone.

Recycling Food Packaging: Your Complete Guide

Recycling your food packaging shouldn’t feel like a chore – especially with the right know-how. Here’s how to make your household more eco‑friendly the easy way, supporting our broader “Sort It” initiative and contributing to smarter waste habits.

What Ireland’s Recycling Targets Show Us

Ireland recycled just 59% of packaging in 2023, falling short of the 65% target for 2025. That gap underlines how much room we have to improve household recycling, particularly when we pay attention to what goes into each bin. EPA Ireland

Know What’s Actually Recyclable

Most food packaging is recyclable — but not everything. Avoid items made from Styrofoam, polystyrene, or “number 7” mixed plastics.
Packaging choices matter: clear/light-blue PET bottles and natural HDPE containers are more valuable to recycling systems. If you’re designing packaging, label aluminium well and steer clear of complex, non-removable materials. repak.ie

Quick Recycling Wins Every Week

Rinse and empty packaging before recycling. This small step keeps bins cleaner and lowers contamination risk. theguardian.com+9How2Recycle+9realsimple.com+9
Keep recyclables loose – no bags. Bags jam machines and can cause entire batches to be discarded.
Don’t bin the lids – screw them back on. These stay attached during processing and recycle more efficiently with their containers. How2Recycle

In Summary

Know what items are recyclable in your local system.
Rinse, keep recyclables loose, and replace lids.
Support initiatives like DRS and keep an eye on legislation that promotes better recycling outcomes.

Together, these steps can help Ireland meet its targets – and make your “Sort It” pledge something you’re proud of.

Sort It! – How Segregated Bins Can Cut Your Waste Costs

Waste management in the workplace isn’t just about being green — it’s about saving money too.

One of the easiest ways to reduce your waste bills is bin segregation: making sure different waste streams are separated at source. When you “sort it” in the office, warehouse, café, or showroom, you’re cutting contamination, reducing landfill charges, and maximising recycling rebates.

Here are some practical tips to get started:

1. Know Your Waste Streams

In Ireland, most commercial premises will benefit from separating into:

General Waste (black or grey bin)
Mixed Recycling (green bin)
Food Waste (brown bin)
Some workplaces might also need dedicated bins for glass, cardboard, or confidential shredding. Check our ‘what can go in your bin’ guide — and make sure everyone knows what goes where.

2. Position Bins Where the Waste Happens

People are more likely to sort correctly when it’s easy.

Place bins in kitchens, staff rooms, print stations, and near desks.
For retail or hospitality, put them back-of-house and at customer points.
Avoid the “single lonely bin” in the corner — it just becomes a dumping ground for everything.

3. Use Clear Labelling & Colour Coding

Labels with photos of what goes in each bin work best — especially for new staff or visitors.
Stick to standard Irish colours where possible:

Black/Grey for General Waste
Green for Recycling
Brown for Food Waste
The less people have to think, the better the segregation will be.

4. Train Your Team (and Keep It Fresh)

A short briefing or toolbox talk can make a big difference.

Explain why segregation matters (lower costs, better for the planet, avoids fines).
Do quick “bin audits” every few months and share the results with the team.
Celebrate improvements — a simple email or shout-out works wonders.

5. Monitor Your Costs & Volumes

We can supply reports showing weight per waste stream.

If your general waste volumes drop, you’ll see the savings in your bill.
More recycling = fewer landfill charges.
Some companies have cut their waste costs by 20–40% just by improving segregation.

The Bottom Line:
Segregated bins aren’t just good for the environment — they’re good for your budget. By making it easy for staff and customers to sort correctly, you’ll reduce disposal costs, improve recycling rates, and help Ireland meet its waste targets.

#SortItCampaign #Sustainability #OfficeRecycling #EcoFriendly #GreenOffice #WasteManagement

Let’s Work Together & Sort It! at Work

As the focus on sustainability continues to grow, offices have become key areas where significant environmental impact can be made. Implementing sustainable practices within the workplace not only helps the environment but can also create a more positive and engaging work culture. In this blog post, we’ll share some handy hints to help improve recycling efforts and promote sustainability among workers in your office.

Set Up Clearly Labelled Recycling Stations

One of the simplest ways to encourage recycling in the office is by setting up clearly labelled recycling stations. Ensure that bins for paper, plastics, glass, and general waste are easily accessible and clearly marked. This reduces confusion and makes it easier for employees to dispose of their waste correctly.

Tip: Place recycling stations in high-traffic areas such as the kitchen, near printers, and in break rooms. Include posters or guides above the bins to remind staff of what can and cannot be recycled.

Encourage Paperless Practices

The digital age offers countless opportunities to reduce paper use in the office. Encourage employees to embrace paperless practices by using digital documents, emails, and cloud storage instead of printing.

Tip: Set printers to double-sided printing by default and encourage staff to think before they print. Offer training sessions on digital tools that can help reduce paper usage, such as PDF editing software or cloud collaboration platforms.

Reuse Office Supplies

Before purchasing new office supplies, consider whether existing items can be reused or repurposed. Items like file folders, binders, and envelopes can often be used multiple times before they need to be replaced.

Tip: Create a designated area for reusable supplies where employees can drop off or pick up items they no longer need. This can reduce the demand for new supplies and minimize waste.

Promote the Use of Reusable Items

Encourage employees to use reusable items such as coffee mugs, water bottles, and lunch containers. This reduces the amount of single-use plastic and paper waste generated in the office.

Tip: Provide reusable items branded with the company logo as part of an eco-friendly welcome pack for new employees. Consider setting up a dishwasher in the office kitchen to make it easier for staff to clean and reuse their items.

Organise Office Recycling Challenges

Make recycling fun by organizing office-wide recycling challenges. Set goals for reducing waste or increasing recycling rates, and offer rewards for teams or individuals who achieve the best results.

Tip: Track the office’s recycling progress and share updates regularly. Consider rewarding the winning team with a lunch outing, extra break time, or a donation to an environmental charity in their name.

Educate and Engage Employees

Education is key to improving sustainability in the workplace. Provide regular training sessions or workshops on recycling and sustainable practices. Share tips and success stories in company newsletters or on the intranet.

Tip: Invite guest speakers from local recycling organizations or environmental groups to give presentations or hold Q&A sessions with employees. This can provide valuable insights and inspire further action.

Implement a Green Office Program

Consider implementing a formal green office program that includes policies and practices focused on sustainability. This can range from simple initiatives like energy-saving measures to comprehensive programs that address all aspects of office operations.

Tip: Establish a “Green Team” of volunteers who are passionate about sustainability. They can help drive the program, monitor progress, and come up with new ideas to improve the office’s environmental impact.

Reduce Energy Consumption

Encouraging energy-saving habits is another important aspect of sustainability. Simple actions like turning off lights when not in use, using energy-efficient appliances, and setting computers to sleep mode can make a big difference.

Tip: Install motion sensors for office lighting in less frequently used areas such as storage rooms and bathrooms. Encourage staff to unplug chargers and electronics when they’re not in use to avoid phantom energy drain.

Conclusion

Improving sustainability in the office is not only beneficial for the environment but also for the overall well-being and morale of employees. By implementing these handy hints, you can create a more eco-friendly workplace that encourages recycling and sustainable practices among workers. Let’s work together to make our offices greener and more responsible places to work.