Recycling your food packaging shouldn’t feel like a chore - especially with the right know-how. Here’s how to make your household more eco‑friendly the easy way, supporting our broader “Sort It” initiative and contributing to smarter waste habits.
Ireland recycled just 59% of packaging in 2023, falling short of the 65% target for 2025. That gap underlines how much room we have to improve household recycling, particularly when we pay attention to what goes into each bin. EPA Ireland
Most food packaging is recyclable — but not everything. Avoid items made from Styrofoam, polystyrene, or “number 7” mixed plastics.
Packaging choices matter: clear/light-blue PET bottles and natural HDPE containers are more valuable to recycling systems. If you’re designing packaging, label aluminium well and steer clear of complex, non-removable materials. repak.ie
Rinse and empty packaging before recycling. This small step keeps bins cleaner and lowers contamination risk.
Keep recyclables loose - no bags. Bags jam machines and can cause entire batches to be discarded.
Don’t bin the lids - screw them back on. These stay attached during processing and recycle more efficiently with their containers.
Know what items are recyclable in your local system.
Rinse, keep recyclables loose, and replace lids.
Support initiatives like DRS and keep an eye on legislation that promotes better recycling outcomes.
