The National Recycling Bin Survey is Back!

‍Help us tackle Ireland’s packaging problem at its source by participating in this important citizen-led initiative

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Hi, I am Chiara, the coordinator of this year’s National Recycling Bin Survey. If you are as concerned as we are about the amount of packaging that ends up in our bins and would like to do something about it, please join the initiative and help us fight Ireland’s biggest packaging problem!

Register today NRBS 2026

Ireland has a massive packaging problem!

-       In 2023, Ireland generated nearly 1.2 million tonnes of packaging waste.[1]

-       Recycling rates are growing, but packaging production is growing even more: 4 times faster, to be exact.[2]

-       Most packaging is single-use, non-recyclable, and quite frankly avoidable.

To push back against it, VOICE Ireland launched the National Recycling Bin Survey (NRBS), a pioneering citizen-led research project involving Irish households, carried out in 2023 and 2025, and now back for a third edition in 2026.

The goal is to empower communities to take action on single-use plastic and engage with the circular economy by taking a deep dive into what’s ending up in Irish recycling bins and cataloguing items by source and material.

Additionally, in 2025, VOICE Ireland conducted a supermarket packaging audit by purchasing sample items in 5 main Irish supermarkets and comparing them to a zero-waste grocery sourced through alternative shops offering refill, bulk, and packaging-free options.[3]

The findings were eye-opening:

-       Plastic made up 50% of the average Irish recycling bin.

-       Supermarkets were responsible for roughly two-thirds of all packaging waste.

-       Zero-waste grocery shopping allowed for a 65% reduction in packaging.

This means that the problem isn’t just individual consumer behaviour, nor bad recycling practices, but what’s being put on our shelves in the first place.

Now that we're back for a third edition, we're calling on households across the country to take part in it, to gather even more data and paint a clearer picture of how our waste is evolving overtime.

The goals of the Survey

The National Recycling Bin Survey is unlike anything else in Ireland. It asks simple but powerful questions: What is inyour recycling bin? Where does it come from? What is it used for?

By collecting this information, we aim to reach three main objectives:

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- Focus attention on the real problem: the excessive production of packaging.

It is time to flip the script and tackle the production of avoidable packaging, rather than focusing on recycling practices that can hardly keep pace with the increased volumes of superfluous non-recyclable/reusable materials put on the market.

- Shift the blame away from consumers.
For too long, the focus of waste reduction has been on consumer behaviour, rather than on who is really responsible for producing what ends up on our shelves. The survey proposes solutions aimed at system change that tackle the problem at its source.

- Inform better policies.
Since 2023, new laws and regulations have been introduced, taking a step in the right direction. However, further independent, citizen-led data can measuretheir real impact and help make the case for continued engagement.

What’s Changed Since the First Survey?

The Irish Deposit Return Scheme (DRS),which collects bottles and cans more effectively, was introduced to boost low recovery rates. First data confirms that this scheme was successful at improving how these high-value materials are recycled: from a return rate of 49% before the scheme to an average 76% after.[4]

The EU’s PPWR legislated, for the firsttime, on the reduction of packaging production. By 2030, certain types of single-use plastic will be banned, and by 2040, the use of packaging overallmust be reduced by 15%.

However, in Ireland, even though recycling by weight has increased, overall recycling percentages aren’t improving because our packaging consumption is growing faster, which is very disheartening.

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And that’s where you come in!

How can you help?

Apply online and participate in the National Recycling Bin Survey 2026.

Your contribution will feed crucial information into a nationwide environmental database, and the anonymised results will be used to advocate for better policy recommendations on waste reuse and reduction.

This initiative only works thanks to individuals like you, willing to help us promote real change. It’s a small commitment, but it can have a big impact, so don’t hesitate to join the cause.

What is required of you?

Just recycle as usual for a period of two weeks, but count the items found in your household’s recycling bin and record their source, use, and material.
We wish to collect data on where the packaging comes from, what it is used for, and what material it is. Additionally, we’d like to gather information on the waste that doesn’t end up being reused or recycled by measuring the volume of your black bin.
To complete the process, you will have to input this data into our online survey and hence contribute to Ireland's environmental fight against superfluous waste.

This is a unique opportunity for you to reflect on your own consumption and to contribute towards a more sustainable future.

When will the survey start and end?

The survey will start in June and last for two weeks, according to your waste bin collection cycle.
But don’t worry, we will provide you with all the tools and information needed to partake in this initiative and assist you every step of the way, in case of any doubts or questions.

Whether you participated in the past or this is your first time, your input is highly valuable and appreciated!

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Registration is open at the following NRBS 2026

[1] Circular Economy and Waste Statistics | Environmental Protection Agency

[2] Packaging Waste Statistics for Ireland | Environmental Protection Agency

[3] Lifting the Lid Report – National Recycling Bin Survey 2025

[4] Re-turn 2024 Annual Report - Re-Turn