What Goes Into My Brown Bin?

Recycling food waste correctly is an important step in reducing landfill waste and protecting our environment. Understanding what goes into your brown bin—and just as importantly, what doesn't—is key to keeping your waste service running smoothly. Here's everything you need to know about using your brown bin effectively with Oxigen Environmental.

What is the Brown Bin For?

The brown bin is designed specifically for food and organic waste. This waste is collected and processed into high-quality compost at licensed composting facilities. Using your brown bin helps reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and supports a more sustainable Ireland.

What Can Go Into the Brown Bin?

Your brown bin accepts a wide range of food and organic materials, including:

✅ Food waste: Bread, rice, pasta, out-of-date foods, cooked and uncooked fruit and vegetables (remove packaging), meat, fish, poultry   bones, eggs and dairy products

✅ Garden waste: Leaves, weeds, moss, grass clippings, plants, flowers and hedge cuttings (as long as they are not treated with weed killer)

✅ Other compostables: Tea bags, coffee grounds, paper filters, food-soiled paper towels and napkins and uncoated food-soiled paper.

💡 Tip: For convenience, consider using a kitchen caddy lined with old newspaper or certified compostable bags. Never use plastic bags in your brown bin, even biodegradable ones - as they will contaminate the waste and prevent collection.

What Can Go Into the Brown Bin?

Avoid placing any of the following in your brown bin, as they can contaminate the load and result in missed collections:

❌ Plastic of any kind

❌ Glass, crockery or metal

❌ Tin foil, sweet wrappers and cans

❌ Cardboard, magazines and Tetra Paks

❌ Nappies, sanitary products and pet litter

❌ Soil, rocks, clay, coal and ashes

❌ Batteries, oil or treated weeds

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still compost at home?

Absolutely! You can use your home compost bin for fruit and veg scraps, but cooked food and meats are best placed in your brown bin.

Is it mandatory to use the brown bin?

Under Irish and EU regulations, households are required to separate food waste from general waste. Yu can do this by disposing or composting of your food and green waste yourself - or you can choose Oxigen to manage your brown bin waste for you.

Are there extra charges for the brown bin?

There may be a small charge for brown bin collection, but most Oxigen plans include brown, green, and black bins at affordable rates.

What happens to my food waste?

Green waste and food waste is transported to facilities such as Envirogrind Composting, where it is aerobically composted in a controlled environment to produce compost for use in landscaping and agriculture.

Need Help or Ready to Get Started?

Visit Oxigen.ie to manage your account, download our app, or contact customer service. We're here to support your journey toward a cleaner, greener Ireland.