National Food Waste Recycling Week 2025: Addressing Irelands Persistent Challenge

National Food Waste Recycling week is running this week 1st to 8th of June 2025, led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and supported by MyWaste.ie, aiming to raise awareness about the environmental and economic impacts of food waste and to encourage households and businesses to adopt sustainable practices. This marks the fourth National Food Waste Recycling Week, with new research highlighting both the progress made in brown bins usage and the ongoing challenge of contamination. Over 20,000 brown bin owners to around 1.2 million across Ireland. However, a recent study shows that despite widespread brown bin usage, contamination still remains a concern, due to confusion about garden and food waste. This study revealed that 33% of individuals knowingly b put incorrect items into brown binds, however this week MyWaste.ie have launched a brand-new campaign that will tackle this problem, focusing on both confusion and haste as key contributing factors.

The Scale of the Problem

Despite ongoing efforts, food waste remains a significant issue in Ireland. in 2022, the country generated approximately 750,000 tonnes of food waste, equating to about 146kg per person annually, surpassing the EU average of 130kg per capita. Of this, 70% originated from businesses across the food supply chain, including production, manufacturing, retail, and food services, while households accounted for 30%.

Ways to tackle food waste

During National Food Waste Recycling Week 2025, Ireland is focusing on practical, community-driven strategies to reduce food waste and enhance recycling efforts. This initiative, supported by the EPA and MyWaste.ie, emphasises the importance of proper food waste segregation and recycling.

1.Plan Meals and Shop Smart

Plan Meals ahead of time, create shopping lists and practise portion control to reduce food waste and save money.

2.Store Food Properly

Keep Perishable items like fruits and vegetables in the fridge, store dry good in airtight containers, and freeze surplus food to extend shelf life and prevent spoilage

3.Use the Brown Bin for Food Waste

Compost food scraps, soiled paper, and light garden waste. Avoid packaging and non-compostables. Use compostable liners for easy collection.

4.Support Composting and Digestion

Encourage the use of composted food waste as organic fertiliser through composting or anaerobic/aerobic digestion, benefiting agriculture and the environment.

Why Food Waste Recycling Matters?

Changes to food waste recycling matters because it directly address’s the critical, environmental, economic and social issues linked to food waste.

Environmental Impact

Food waste is a major contributor to climate change

Globally, food waste generates about 8-10% of greenhouse gas emissions according to UNEP (2021).

If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, after the US and China.

Landfill pressure and pollution:

In Ireland, food waste sent to landfill releases methane, a gas 25 times more potent than CO2 in trapping heat.

Organic waste takes up over 30% of landfill space in some regions, accelerating land shortage and contamination

Economic Cost

Wasted food = wasted money

Irish Households throw away approximately €700 worth of food per year according to the EPA. The hospitality sector in Ireland loses over €300 million annually due to food waste.

Recycling food waste reduces disposal costs

Properly separated food waste can be converted into compost or energy, avoiding expensive landfill levies and reducing municipal waste management expenses.

Recycling converts waste to resources

Aerobic digestion and composting turns food waste into:

Organic fertiliser used in agriculture and gardening. A properly managed brown bin system can divert up to 250,000 tonnes of food waste per year from landfill in Ireland alone.

Social Responsbility

While over 25% of the world’s food supply is wasted, millions face food insecurity.

In Ireland, 1 in 9 people experience food poverty (Social Justic Ireland, 2023). Better food waste management and redistribution (food donation programs) can help bridge this gap.

National Policy Progress

In 2024, Ireland mandated access to brown bins for all households, a policy expected to significantly improve food waste separation and recycling.
National Food Waste Recycling Week 2025 focuses on education, access and participation, aligning with EU goals to halve food waste by 2030.

Looking Ahead

While progress is being made, the persistence of food waste underscores the need for continued efforts. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emphasises that reducing food waste requires collective action from individuals, businesses, and communities. By adopting sustainable practises and supporting initiatives like Food Waste Recycling Week, Ireland can move closer to its goal of halving food waste by 2030, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The EPAs “Stop Food Waste” campaign provides practical tips on meal planing, shopping, and storage to gelp households reduce waste and save money. The challenge is clear, but with the right combination of awareness, innovation, and accountability, Ireland has the opportunity to become a global leader in sustainable food waste management.

For further information on circular food waste and sustainable solutions contact Harp Renewables