Irish launch business food waste collections
Businesses producing large quantities of food waste in Ireland are from today (July 1) subject to new waste collection rules.
The new Food Waste Regulation (SI 508 of 2009) means all major sources of food waste, like pubs, hotels, restaurants, canteens, supermarkets and nursing homes, must use a dedicated bin and not mix left overs with other waste.
Ireland is hoping to cut food waste out of landfill by using anaerobic digestion and improve on the poor 10% of it which is currently recycled by businesses.
Government backed www.foodwaste.ie is the national programme to promote the Food Waste Regulations and is an initiative of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Cré-Composting and Anaerobic Digestion Association of Ireland.
Co-ordinator for foodwaste.ie, Percy Foster, said: "The Landfill Directive requires all European Union member states to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill sites by a series of yearly, and increasingly stringent, targets. A failure to meet these targets may cause Ireland having to pay significant fines.
"Businesses already using a brown bin-based collection service for food waste have gathered a valuable insight into their waste management practices.
"This information has led to financial savings in many instances, the Food Waste Regulations offer a number of potential benefits to businesses."
In December 2009, environment Minister, John Gormley, signed the Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations rules bringing in the new recycling laws this month.
Luke Walsh
Source: edie newsroom
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anaerobic digestion | food | Ireland | waste
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