Business Food Waste Compliance in Ireland: What Companies Need to Know

Food waste compliance is a legal requirement for many businesses operating in Ireland. Whether you run a restaurant, café, hotel, supermarket, office canteen, or food production facility, you are required by law to manage food waste correctly.

At Greyhound Recycling, we support businesses across Dublin and Ireland with fully compliant food waste collection services. This guide explains what food waste compliance means, who it applies to, and how businesses can stay compliant.

What Is Food Waste Compliance?

Since 2024, the Waste Management (Food Waste)(Amendment) Regulations 2024 have been in place.

These Regulations are designed to promote the segregation and recovery of food waste arising in the commercial sector. They amend Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009 and obligate all commercial premises to segregate their food waste other than those premises specifically exempted) in line with the requirements in the European Union Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC).
Bio-waste must either be separated and recycled at source or be collected separately and is not to be mixed with other types of waste.

Food waste compliance refers to the legal obligation for businesses to:

• Segregate food waste from other waste streams
• Use an authorised waste collector
• Ensure food waste is recycled through approved treatment facilities

These requirements are set out under Irish waste legislation and enforced by local authorities.

source: mywaste.ie

Which Businesses Must Comply?

Food waste segregation rules apply to businesses that produce food waste, including:

• Restaurants, cafés, pubs, and hotels
• Takeaways and fast-food outlets
• Supermarkets and food retailers
• Office buildings with canteens
• Hospitals, schools, and care facilities
• Food manufacturing and processing sites

If your business produces food waste, compliance is not optional.

What Counts as Food Waste?

Food waste includes both raw and cooked food, such as:

• Fruit and vegetable peelings
• Meat, fish, and dairy waste
• Plate scrapings
• Expired food products
• Tea bags and coffee grounds

These materials must be placed in a designated food waste (brown) bin.

How to Stay Compliant

Businesses can meet food waste compliance requirements by:

• Providing clearly labelled food waste bins
• Training staff on proper waste segregation
• Scheduling regular food waste collections
• Working with an authorised waste collector

Greyhound Recycling offers flexible food waste collection schedules to match business needs.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with food waste regulations can result in:

• Inspections and enforcement notices
• Fines and penalties
• Reputational damage
• Operational disruption

Using a compliant waste service, like Greyhound Recycling, helps protect your business.

How Greyhound Recycling Supports Compliance

• ✔️ Fully authorised food waste collection
• ✔️ Reliable, scheduled collections
• ✔️ Recycling and recovery-focused processing
• ✔️ Online account management and service records
• ✔️ Support for inspections and audits

Food Waste Compliance Made Simple

If your business needs compliant food waste collection in Dublin or Ireland, Greyhound Recycling provides dependable solutions you can trust.

Contact Greyhound today to discuss your food waste needs.

Read more about Greyhound Recycling’s commercial waste services.