Repak is calling on businesses to fulfil their legal recycling obligations by properly segregating waste through the national three-bin system and adopting sustainable waste management practices.
Despite an increase of €1m additional commercial funding in 2024, commercial recycling plastic recycling has dropped.
Repak says this concerning trend points to a gap in workplace recycling practices and emphasises the urgent need for businesses to take action.
Research from Repak has highlighted a significant gap in workplace recycling practices, revealing that 40% of people report their workplace is either non-compliant with the national three-bin requirement or unsure of their compliance status.
Of the 40%, 29% acknowledge their workplace is non-compliant, while a further 11% were uncertain about whether their workplace meets the required standards.
The call is part of the organisation's Resolve to Recycle…Better campaign, which encourages both businesses and consumers to make improved recycling habits a central focus of their January New Year’s resolutions.
Zoe Kavanagh, CEO of Repak, stressed the urgency of the initiative: "Every business in Ireland has a duty to meet the three-bin requirement, not just because it is a legal requirement, but because it is critical to Ireland’s environmental goals.
"By failing to recycle properly, workplaces are not only failing to meet commercial recycling regulations but are also undermining Ireland’s efforts to create a circular economy and achieve future EU recycling targets."
Clear gap in workplace recycling
Under regulations introduced in July 2023, all businesses are legally required to implement a three-bin system for waste segregation.
This policy aligns commercial waste management practices with residential standards and ensures compliance with Regulation 5 of the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014.
Since July 2023, every business in Ireland must have bins for residual waste, mixed dry recyclables, and bio-waste, which facilitates the proper segregation of packaging waste by material type.
Ireland's 2025 recycling targets require the country to recycle at least 55% of all plastic packaging waste.
Businesses are pivotal in achieving these goals, and Repak is committed to providing the expertise and resources needed to help them succeed.
