COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 11, 2010

QUESTION NO. 8

QUESTION: Councillor R. Dowds

To ask the Manager to provide consumers with the details of the types of compostable sacks which can be inserted in brown bins?

REPLY:

In terms of the waste hierarchy, use of old paper to wrap food waste is generally an environmentally and economically preferable option and should be recommended as a first option in all instances. 

Ordinary plastic bags cannot be placed in bins as this can contaminate loads.

There are products available in hardware stores ,on supermarket shelves and available on the internet  that are 100% compostable and some state on the wrapper that they are suitable for use in council brown bins.  These products are available in different sizes for use in swing/pedal bins in the kitchen, as brown bin liners and larger capacity bags for garden waste etc . The bags break down and leave no harmful residue.  The liners/bags aim to reduce odours and accessibility. Due to the nature of the construction of the bags/liners the contents can be easily inspected.

  When customers are purchasing a Compostable product they should follow these steps:

1: Size: Know the size of the bin that is being used: Bin sizes vary. Generally they are in the following ranges:

Small kitchen bins:25 l,

Swing bin or pedal bin :60l,

Brown bin:140 litre

2:Label: Look for the words 100% Compostable.  

3:Check how long the bag takes to break down – if it is 12 to 18 months they are not suitable for the brown bin but could be used in the black bin to contain residual waste.