Donegal households and businesses are playing their part in a dramatic national rise in food waste recycling, as new figures show presentation rates for brown bins have surged to 70% across Ireland.
Preliminary data from the National Waste Collection Permit Office (NWCPO) for 2025 reveals that over 1.4 million households nationwide are now using brown bins, with the number of households accessing the service rising by 10% between 2024 and 2025.
The figures were released this week to coincide with National Food Waste Recycling Week 2026, now in its fifth year, which is being promoted by MyWaste, Ireland’s official waste management guide.
Pauline McDonogh, Circular Economy Co-ordinator at MyWaste, said the results reflected years of sustained effort at local and national level.
“The latest data shows that hundreds of thousands of brown bins are now being presented for collection every year, which is a very positive sign of how far we have come,” she said.
“This year’s campaign is about building on that success, making sure food waste is sorted correctly, contamination is prevented, and brown bins are presented regularly, without the need to be full.”
MyWaste has also announced journalist and sustainability advocate Jo Linehan as its brand ambassador for 2026. She said the key now was turning good intentions into lasting habits.
“Managing your brown bin efficiently is one of the simplest habits we can all build into our daily lives,” she said. “Small actions, done consistently, can have a big impact.”
This year’s campaign focuses on reducing bin contamination and encouraging more regular presentation. Households are reminded to use certified compostable liners, remove all packaging from food waste, and put the brown bin out regularly, even when only partially full.
For further information, visit MyWaste.ie