Food Waste Regulations - Stricter Obligations Placed On The Food Sector

Sligo Local Authorities would like to highlight the stricter obligations placed on the Food Sector in regard to the Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations (SI 508 of 2009). The new regulations cover a broad range of commercial outlets, including shops, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, pubs and office canteens. Producers of food waste are now obliged and required by law to segregate food waste, ensure that it is collected by an authorised/permitted waste collector and then recovered at an authorised/permitted recovery facility.

A food waste collection service must be used so that the collected food waste is subsequently recycled by composting or by other approved food waste recycling processes. In other words, as a minimum a third bin (brown bin) for food waste should be in place along with the other two segregated waste streams (dry waste recyclables bin and a landfill bin).

At the present time, the recycling rate in Ireland for food waste generated by businesses is very low – less than 10%. However, this material can be recycled relatively easy. This new legislation is designed to increase national recycling levels by ensuring that commercial food waste is recycled.

In addition to increasing national recycling rates, the purpose of the legislation is to comply with EU legislation. The Landfill Directive requires all EU 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.

Examples of savings are:

A decrease in the amount of food waste sent for disposal may create financial savings by the avoidance of landfill levy charges. In 2010, the landfill levy was €30/tonne, this year it has risen to €50/tonne and next year, it is expected to rise to €75/tonne. This will inevitably have a direct effect on businesses’ residual/landfilling related waste charges.
Other financial savings can be accrued, such as less general waste causing a waste compactor to be used and emptied less often; and
Development of food waste prevention practices such as better food portion control and improved food purchasing practices that are associated with less waste. For further information on the regulations and what they mean for your sector, visit www.sligococo.ie.

INSPECTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT HAS COMMENCED BY THE ENVIRONMENT SECTION OF SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE IS ACHIEVED – MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED BY PUTTING THE NECESSARY MEASURES IN PLACE.

Published on the 26/10/2011