Waste Contamination……. Service Providers Lead the Way.

The proper segregation of domestic waste by householders has been a topical issue since the introduction of the Brown Bin under the Household Food Waste Regulations in 2013. Since then, there has been significant improvement in waste segregation at source. However some householders continue to mix residual/ black waste , food waste and recyclables, leading to the contamination of vast quantities of otherwise reusable waste. This was evidenced by the recent stopping of 160 containers of  Irish recyclables in Rotherdam, by European Authorities.  It is illegal to mix waste types. However as can be evidenced countrywide, particularly in the case of  MUD’s such as apartment blocks and student accommodations, the legislation is being blantantly flouted in full public view. And no brown bin is to been seen in a large number of these complexes.

Local authorities are turning a blind eye to this activitiy, with many of their own  developments not being compliant with legislation.  Similarly many MUD Management Companies are  allowing waste types to be mixed in their developments. This begs the question :-  who is going to stop this illegal activity, which is creating headaches for waste service providers and causing untold environmental damage and waste. The answer surprisingly is the waste industry itself.They have taken upon themselves the mantle of promoting and encouraging compliance with legislation while those mandated to do so look the other way.   Providers such as Panda, Greyhound, Allied Recycling and CityBin are actively promoting the responsible segregation of waste with the use of news items, flyers, bin stickers etc. Well done to you all and let’s hope a bit more proactivity will be forthcoming from the powers that be….