waste collection

EXPLORING WASTE COLLECTION IN IRELAND IN 2024

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You might not expect to see a garbage truck covered in soft toys, but that’s exactly what inspired me to take a closer look at waste collection in Ireland.

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Discarded Items Given New Life:

A Touch of Joy: Stuffed animals are often associated with childhood and happy memories. By adorning their truck with these items, the workers might be salvaging not just the physical toy but also the sense of warmth it represents.

Second Chances: Similar to how waste is sorted for recycling, the toys are ‘rescued’ from the trash and given a new purpose. This could symbolise hope and the potential for transformation, even within a job focused on discarding things.

Playfulness in Hard Work: Waste collection can be a dirty, physically demanding job. The toys might inject a sense of lightness and playfulness, reminding the workers that even within the practicalities of life, there’s room for fun.

Comfort for Sanitation Workers

Personalised Workspace: Garbage trucks can feel utilitarian. The toys may be a way for workers to personalise their space and make it feel slightly more welcoming on long routes.
Reminding Themselves of Why They Work: Sanitation work is essential to public health and safety. The toys, with their associations with innocence and childhood, could be a subconscious reminder of the positive impact their job has on the community, especially with the protection of vulnerable groups.
Humanising Connection: The toys can humanise sanitation workers in the eyes of the public. It creates a touchpoint and can potentially break down stereotypes of gruff or impersonal workers.

Additional Symbolism

The Journey of Objects: As toys ride along on a garbage truck, they could symbolise the journey our discarded items take. It’s a visual reminder of consumption and waste patterns.
Environmental Warning: Depending on the condition of the toys (tattered, dirty), it could serve as a subtle commentary on wastefulness and the environmental impact of our discarded items.

Ireland’s waste collection system is primarily handled by private companies. This means there can be slight variations in collection schedules and practices depending on your location. Households generally choose a private company to collect waste using a system of colour-coded wheelie bins. Ireland is committed to recycling and waste reduction initiatives, with separate bins for organic waste, recyclables, and general waste.

Households must choose a private company for the collection and disposal of their rubbish bins. Waste is collected every week or two, depending on the type of waste. Some companies collect different types of rubbish on different days. If you live in a rural area with a low population, you may not have a collection service. In this case, you must bring your domestic waste to an approved waste facility in your area.

As already mentioned waste collection companies use colour-coded bins for separating household waste, for example: brown bins for organic waste, green bins for recyclable waste, and black bins are for general waste. Some companies may also offer a glass recycling collection.

As for the future plans, Ireland is moving towards a circular economy model where resources are reused or recycled as much as possible and the generation of waste is minimised. The transition to a circular economy requires a collaborative national response across all sectors of the economy through the lifecycle of products and materials.

The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy is Ireland’s new roadmap for waste planning and management. This Plan shifts focus away from waste disposal and looks instead to how we can preserve resources by creating a circular economy. The Plan outlines the contribution of the sector to the achievement of a number of other national plans and policies including the Climate Action Plan.

The key targets under the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy are: households and businesses recycling targets for waste collectors, standardised bin colours across the State: green for recycling, brown for organic waste and black for residual. Environmental levies for waste recovery and single-use coffee cups to encourage recycling and reuse. A nationwide deposit and return scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans. An education and awareness campaign to improve waste segregation. The halving of food waste by 2030. Waste segregation infrastructure for apartment dwellers.

What About The Waste Collection Trucks?

While regular garbage or refuse trucks are used in Ireland, there aren’t any special types unique or specific to the country.

Types of Waste Trucks:

Rear-loader trucks: These are the most common type of garbage truck globally, and Ireland is no exception. They have a rear mechanism that lifts and empties waste bins into a hopper.

Side-loader trucks: These are also used in Ireland. They have a mechanical arm on the side that grabs and empties bins. They’re often seen in residential areas.

Front-loader trucks: Less common in Ireland than the previous two, these are used for large commercial dumpsters.

Truck Features:

Compaction: Modern waste trucks compact trash to maximise space.
Split Hoppers: Some trucks might have separate compartments to collect different types of waste during a single route.

Additional Notes

While Ireland doesn’t have a uniquely designed waste truck, there might be trends towards:

Electric or Hybrid Trucks: Like many countries, there’s a push for more environmentally friendly waste collection vehicles.
Specialised Trucks: Smaller vehicles might be used in areas with narrow streets or access limitations.