CORK businesses and households have contributed to the national 70% surge in brown bin waste collection, a new survey shows.

Data from the National Waste Collection Permit Office shows progress in the uptake of food waste recycling services with 1.4m households now using brown bins.

Between 2024 and 2025, the number of households with access to the brown bin service increased by 10%, and presentation rates grew by 3%. All types of households across Ireland are now engaged with food waste recycling in both rural and urban areas, as well as all housing types, including apartments.

The figures were released by MyWaste to coincide with National Food Waste Recycling Week. The brown bin service takes raw and cooked meat and fish, plate scrapings, fruit and vegetable peel, eggshells, coffee grounds and food-soiled paper items, as well as light garden waste.