40% of Irish workplaces fail to meet recycling standards
With nearly one in three workplaces non-compliant and 11% unsure about recycling obligations, Repak’s new campaign urges businesses to adopt the three-bin system
Print3 January 2025
Today, Repak is calling on businesses across Ireland to fulfil their legal recycling obligations by properly segregating waste through the national three-bin system and adopting sustainable waste management practices.
Research from Repak has highlighted a significant gap in workplace recycling practices, revealing that 40% of Irish people report their workplace is either non-compliant with the national three-bin requirement or unsure of their compliance status.
Of the 40%, 29% acknowledged their workplace is non-compliant, while a further 11% were uncertain about whether their workplace meets the required standards.
Fulfilling legal obligations
This call for businesses to fulfil their legal obligations is part of Repak’s Resolve to Recycle…Better campaign, which encourages both businesses and consumers to make improved recycling habits a central focus of their January New Year’s resolutions.
“Every business in Ireland has a duty to meet the three-bin requirement, not just because it is a legal requirement, but because it is critical to Ireland’s environmental goals,” said Zoe Kavanagh, chief executive officer, Repak.
According to Kavanagh, by failing to recycle properly, workplaces are not only failing to meet commercial recycling regulations but are also undermining Ireland’s efforts to create a circular economy and achieve future EU recycling targets.
“We believe workplaces can lead the charge toward sustainability and Resolve to Recycle Better initiative is designed to support them every step of the way. This January, we are calling on businesses to Resolve to Recycle Better and become compliant with Ireland’s three-bin policy,” concluded Kavanagh.
Gap in workplace recycling
Under regulations introduced in July 2023, all Irish businesses are legally required to implement a three-bin system for waste segregation.
This policy aligns commercial waste management practices with residential standards and ensures compliance with Regulation 5 of the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014 (as amended).
Since July 2023, every business in Ireland must have bins for residual waste, mixed dry recyclables, and bio-waste. This facilitates the proper segregation of packaging waste by material type.
Call to Action: Resolve to recycle…better
Repak is urging businesses to take immediate action by:
- Ensuring proper segregation of waste using the national three-bin system.
- Accessing free resources and compliance guidelines available at Repak.ie
- Taking advantage of Repak’s support programs, which offer guidance to improve recycling programmes.
Meeting 2025 targets
Despite an increase of €1,000,000 additional commercial funding in 2024, commercial recycling plastic recycling has dropped.
This concerning trend points to a gap in workplace recycling practices and emphasises the urgent need for businesses to take action.
Ireland’s 2025 recycling targets require the country to recycle at least 55% of all plastic packaging waste.
Businesses are pivotal in achieving these goals, and Repak is committed to providing the expertise and resources needed to help them succeed.
Optimising packaging through prevention
To complement the Resolve to Recycle…Better campaign, Repak is continuing its Prevent and Save Programme, designed to help businesses reduce waste and optimise packaging materials. This initiative encourages companies to:
- Reduce unnecessary packaging.
- Transition to recyclable and reusable materials.
- Adopt lightweight and sustainable packaging alternatives.
For further information or access to recycling resources, visit here.
Read more: Last call for environmental champions to enter 2023 Repak Pakman Awards
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