Anyone who disposes of their rubbish correctly could save a lot of money by only having their general waste collected “three or four times a year”, according to one recycling expert.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite across the country, Newstalk is here to help with a new online series highlighting the best ways to save on your bills.
Earlier today, we took a look at some of the best bin collection offers around Ireland – but another important part of cutting the cost is to use those bins correctly.
Speaking to Newstalk Reporter Aoife Kearns, Repak CEO Séamus Clancy said using your green recycling bin more often can save households a lot of money.
“Anybody who doesn't put in place a recycling system in their house, they're actually throwing money away,” he said on Lunchtime Live.
“When you think about it, by law, every household in the country is supposed to be offered a three-bin system: a recycling bin, a [brown] food waste bin and a [black] residual bin.”
Mr Clancy said the green bin is the cheapest bin to have collected by waste company.
“You should be recycling the most and anything you possibly can in the house,” he said.
The brown bin for food waste is the second cheapest bin in the house, according to Mr Clancy, and should be given just as much attention as your recycling.
Recycling containers Ireland. Image: Kirk Treakle / Alamy Stock Photo“Then you have your black bin, your residual bin,” he said.
“If you're doing the first two really well, you should only have your residual bin collected a few times a year – three or four times max.
“Our house is down to three, and that’s because we look at everything and ask, ‘Can it be recycled? Does it go in the food waste bin? Are there alternative places to bring your waste?’.”
Aoife also noted general waste bin sizes range from 140 litres, typically costing €35, to 360, which cost anywhere between €100 and €200.
“That is a consideration as well if you want to save money,” she said.
“Why would you pay for a 360-litre bin if you’re not going to fill it?”
Civic Amenity Sites
While it’s important to shop around the market for the best value bin company, Mr Clancy pointed out you can cut the cost earlier by using recycling facilities in your local area and cutting down the weight of waste you send to bin collectors.
"There’s 120 Civic Amenity Sites around the country,” he said.
“The majority of these are free or have a very small cost going in.
“They will take nearly everything that needs to be recycled or that can be recycled.”
You can find some of these centres at mywaste.ie, according to Mr Clancy.
“Every time you do that, you’re actually cutting the cost for yourself,” he said.
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