In September 2006, Dublin City Council introduced a pilot kerbside collection of organic waste.

This was the first phase of the implementation of the National Biodegradable Waste Strategy in the city and helps to achieve targets set out in the Waste Management Plan 2005-2010.

The purpose of the pilot project in selected areas was to determine the average weight of domestic organic material per household, which could be diverted, for composting and the quality of the resultant compost.  In that pilot study, almost 8000 domestic households received a 140-litre Brown Bin and a kitchen caddy for the collection of household organic waste and garden waste.

During the pilot phase of the rollout over 500 tonnes of organic waste was diverted from landfill. This material is being sent to a fully licensed composting facility where it is converted into a Class 1 material suitable for land spreading on tillage and pastureland.

The next phase of the rollout began in February 2008 to the Coolock Area, with 30,000 domestic households receiving brown bins and kitchen caddies.

An additional 40,000 households in the Ballymun Area received brown bins and kitchen caddies in May 2008 – thus the rollout of kerbside collection of organic waste was completed on North side of the City by the summer period.

The roll out of brown bins to the South side of the City is well under way in 2009 and it is estimated that all householders in Dublin City will have a brown bin by July 2009.  

Prior to the commencement of the collection service, each householder receives a notification letter stating that they shall be receiving a new brown bin within the forthcoming days, the collection days and the charging system. 

The first three months collection of the brown bin shall be free of charge.

Dublin City Council would like to take the opportunity to thank householders for their support of the scheme to date.

For helpful hints and the latest brown bin news click here

Brown bin collections are carried out every 2 weeks by Dublin City Council.

Collection calendars for households in the Dublin City Council region can be downloaded HERE . Simply type in your address to find your collection day.

For a limited period only  compost produced from a combination of biodegradable material including food and garden waste from Dublin City Council’s Brown Bin will be available at the following Bring Centres:

• Windmill Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12
• Gullistan Terrace, Rathmines, Dublin 6
• Oscar Traynor Road, Coolock, Dublin 5
  

Find out more about this offer here...

Public information sessions are held in order to advise the segregation of household organic waste and garden waste and on the types of material accepted in the Brown Bin provided. Click here for full details about public information sessions in your area.

Each household is also provided with an information leaflet detailing the types of waste accepted in the Brown Bin.

A helpline has also been set up at 01 - 222 1000

Please take some time to read through the information provided on the brown bin and keep it to hand until you are familiar with what material goes into the bin.

Dublin City Council latest Brown Bin News 

Dublin City Council Recycling Leaflet

Dublin City Council Brown Bin FAQs

Dublin City Council Information Leaflet (English) PDF 254Kb

Dublin City Council Information Leaflet (Gaeilge) PDF 256Kb

DublinWaste.ie Brown Bin Information Page

Customers who feel that they may not wish to avail of the service can forward their details (name, address, account number) stating the reason they do not wish to receive a Brown Bin - to the Brown Bin Project of the Waste Management Section of Dublin City Council and requests are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Updated: 16/07/2010