1.  Why is Dublin City Council Introducing a Brown Bin Collection?

The new Brown Bin collection will provide a facility for the separate collection of organic kitchen and garden waste for composting, and will contribute to the ongoing improvement of waste management in the city.

By using their Brown Bin householders will:

• Reduce the amount of waste in their Black Bin by approximately 33%
• Help increase recycling rates in the city
• Help reduce their annual waste disposal bill
• Continue to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill
  
  

Landfill is the least preferred option for dealing with waste and surveys have indicated that the waste each household produces is made up of over 60% of materials that are either recyclable or compostable. Therefore it makes sense that this waste should not be going to landfill.

2.     Why Compost?

Composting is a method for treating solid waste in which organic material is broken down by micro-organisms in the presence of oxygen to a point where it can be safely stored, handled and applied to the environment.

The material collected in the Brown Bin is the main source of the negative effects of landfill such as leachate (the liquid which is formed as a result of rain percolating through the waste and reacting with the products of decomposition) and landfill gas generation and the diversion of this material from landfill benefits the environment.

The waste collected in the Brown Bin will be treated biologically, in a controlled environment, which will transform the material into compost, a nutrient rich soil conditioner. This compost has a number of uses including landscaping and home use, erosion control and land reclamation projects.

3.     What Can I Put in my Brown Bin?

The Brown Bin is to be used for food and garden wastes ONLY.  If other wastes (especially plastics) are put in this bin it will cause contamination and may result in the bin not being collected. Due to the nature of the material in the Brown Bin we would encourage you to leave your bin out for collection every two weeks whether it is full or not.

Acceptable Material

4.     Benefits

The introduction of the Brown Bin service will save you money by helping to reduce the amount of waste going into your Black Bin. There will be no charge for the Brown Bin service for the first 3 months. From that date the charge will be €2 per lift, which is significantly less than that for a similar size Black/Grey bin (€3.40 per lift).

The existing refuse collection system results in all your waste in the black wheelie bin being landfilled. While it is fair to say that many individuals use the various bring bank facilities and try to recycle as much as possible, the new collection system will aim to maximise the amount of waste which is recycled and composted by making it more convenient.

5.  What areas are included in the Pilot Scheme?

All bin routes from the Coolock Depot will be receiving a Brown Bin and will be notified by post.

6.  When is the service being introduced?

The roll out commenced on Monday 21st January 2008 and will continue until all of Dublin City area is covered.  Each household will be advised of the date of their first brown collection.

7.  Are households being notified of the introduction of the service?

Yes. Notices will be delivered to every house where the Brown Bin service is to be offered, advising householders that their bin will be delivered shortly. An information leaflet will also be distributed with the bin so that householders can familiarise themselves with how to use the bin correctly.

8.  When will the charge be introduced for the service?

The Brown Bin will be collected free of charge for the first 3 months. After this date a charge of €2 will apply each time the bin is lifted.

9. When will it be rolled out to the rest of the City Council Area?

All households will receive their Brown Bins within the next year.

10. Who will be entitled to a Brown Bin?

Brown Bins will be distributed to householders, whose black bin is being collected at present.

11. Will the bin be registered to a particular address before it is delivered?

Yes. Each bin will be registered to a unique address as with the Black Bin. Householders are requested to ensure their bin is registered to the correct address by checking the details on the sticker fixed to the bin.

12. Will householders on a waiver receive a Brown Bin?

Yes. Householders who are eligible for a waiver will also receive a Brown Bin.

13. What arrangement will the Council make to collect my black bin if it is full on the weeks that the brown bins are being collected?

The Brown Bin collection will replace the black bin collection every second week. Once the Brown Bin collection commences, there should be no requirement for a weekly black bin collection.

14. Can a householder refuse a brown bin?

Customers should forward their details (name, address, account number) stating the reason they do not wish to receive a Brown Bin to the following:

Brown Bin Project,
Waste Management Services,
68-71 Marrowbone Lane,

Requests will be dealt with on a case by case basis. If their are any queries in relation to the new service please telephone our customer centre at 2221000 or email brownbin@dublincity.ie.

15. If I fall into arrears, will this lead to the cancellation of both collections or just the grey bin collection?

Customers whose service is suspended will not receive a Brown Bin collection

Updated 30/04/08