Food Waste Regulations

The Regulations are intended to impose obligations on the main generators of food waste including shops, supermarkets, forecourts, state buildings where food is prepared, restaurants and cafes, hot food outlets, canteens, hotels and large guest houses. 

Obligated producers need to ensure that they segregate food wastes and make them available for separate collection or alternatively direct transfer by the producer for the purposes of authorised treatment. The food waste may also be treated on the premises where they are produced, pertaining to specific conditions.

The Regulation is to facilitate achieving targets set out in the European Commission’s Landfill Directive for the diversion of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) from landfill sites to composting and anaerobic digestion plants, and to other forms of biological treatment.

From the 1st of July 2010, the regulations will apply to premises producing over 50kg of food waste per week. Premises producing less than 50kg per week of food waste must claim exemption in writing before the 1st of July 2010 from their Local Authority. This derogation will apply until July 2011. The Local Authority can ask a producer for proof of generating less that 50kg of food waste per week by requesting a competent person to prepare a food waste management plan.

From the 1st of July 2011, all scheduled premises will be covered by the Regulations irrespective of the amounts of food waste produced.