In order to provide accurate information on the management of municipal waste in the National Waste Report, it is necessary to understand and quantify its nature and constituents. The nature and content of the various municipal waste streams is changing as increasing amounts of different materials are segregated for recycling. Regular waste characterisation surveys at a local level provide up to date information on the composition of household and non-household waste, which in turn is used to calculate national statistics.
The characterisation of mixed waste bins is key – namely mixed residual waste, mixed dry recyclables and mixed organic waste (i.e. kitchen and garden) – whether from household or commercial sources. These bins and municipal waste sources are generally referred to as black, green and brown bins respectively.
In 2004, the EPA commissioned a project to characterise household and non-household municipal waste arising in Ireland, building on the municipal waste characterisation methodology developed by the EPA in 1996, and other surveys carried out since then in various sectors across Ireland. The project developed an updated methodology for the sampling of municipal waste, bearing in mind the evolution in waste management and collection systems. This study was repeated in 2008 and the findings from these studies are now available.
Download Waste Characterisation Reports
Download the European Waste Catalogue for List of Wastes
