Soft Plastic Recycling

Wondering what soft plastic is and if it is recyclable? This blog explores all about soft plastic recycling, from its definition to tips on how to dispose of your soft plastic waste. Barna Recycling has invested in technological advancements allowing us to sort, recover and dispose of different plastic materials. Each household increasing their efforts to dispose of plastic is an essential & positive step for managing recycling plastic packaging waste in the country, and that includes soft plastic recycling. It will help put Ireland a huge step forward towards achieving the increased packaging recycling targets set by the EU. 
 
Currently, Ireland recycles less than one-third (28 per cent) of all plastic packaging waste.  
 
Irish Data from 2018 shows that out of the 264,000 tonnes of plastic packaging generated, only 82,000 was recycled. Almost all remaining plastic packaging was often shipped overseas to Europe for incineration or use by energy plants.  

What is soft plastic? 

Soft plastic is any type of plastic that you can scrunch in your hand. Good types of soft plastic are shrunken wraps, plastic carrier bags, toilet roll wrappers, plastic bread bags, zip lock bags, and bubble wrap.

Soft Plastic Recycling: defining if the plastic is recyclable 

A good indicator if plastic is soft and recyclable is to pull on the plastic to see if it stretches. This means the plastic is not laminated and can be recycled. 

If the plastic doesn’t stretch, this means it’s laminated or coated and, therefore, probably not recyclable. These types of plastic are removed during our sorting process for rigid and soft plastic recycling and sent to waste to energy recovery. Examples of non-soft plastics are foil-based packaging, neither netting, polystyrene and foam.

Rigid plastics, such as plastic bottles and food trays, are accepted in the recycling bin. Going forward, households can place all plastic packaging waste, including soft plastic, into the recycling bin if they’re clean, dry and loose.

Remember to place your recycling materials loose, clean, and dry into your bin. Please do not place your recycling items in a plastic bag. 

You can always check What Goes in My Blue Bin if you are unsure of items that can be recycled.
 

Barna’s Soft Plastic Recycling Process and Tips 

• Once your plastic waste is placed in the household recycling bin, our collection crew then collect your recycling bins on the designated day and deliver the waste materials to our EPA-licensed recycling facility.  
• Once your waste materials are delivered to our facility, the recycled items are then sorted for processing on our picking line. 
• Here, the recycled waste is separated into six different categories such as paper, cardboard or hard plastics, glass, aluminium & steel cans. 
• As a result of new technology and investment, soft plastics can now be segregated in this same way with the use of advanced optical sorting equipment, which facilitates the soft plastic recycling process. 
• Plastics have a high energy content that can be converted to electricity, synthetic gas, fuels, and recycled feedstocks for new plastics. 
• The recyclable plastic & cardboard waste is baled & shipped abroad to be sold and recycled in European and other markets or used by manufacturers or energy plants.

Interesting Facts about Plastic  

• Plastic makes up 90% of the rubbish in our oceans 
• Plastic production uses 8% of the world’s oil production 
• Every ton of plastic that is recycled saves 30 barrels of crude oil 
• A plastic bag takes 500 years to break down in a landfill 
• Recycling 1 plastic bottle saves the same amount of energy needed to power a 60-Watt light bulb for 6 hours 

 Items that can be made from recycled plastic bottles include: 

• Fleece 
• Sleeping Bags 
• Backpacks 
• Dog Beds 
• 25 large plastic soft drink bottles will make 1 Fleece Jacket 

Clothes Recycling: 5 Tips To Repurpose And Dispose Of Old Textiles

Textile and clothes recycling is not always on people’s sustainability radar. But now that you’ve managed to create a low-waste, eco-friendly bathroom, it’s time to finally get around to reorganising your bedroom to recycle & repurpose your used clothing, old mattresses & duvets.

Here at Barna Recycling we often find our customers wondering what to do with clothes that are old or no longer fit and textiles that have already seen their share of wear & tear. But don’t worry, we got you covered. There are plenty of sustainable solutions for repurposing, disposing, and recycling clothes and other old textiles, which we have outlined below. 

5 Tips For Clothes Recycling And Disposal

1. Shopping Smart  

Firstly, it’s important to understand that the textile industry is the second largest contributor to global pollution (Source: mywaste.ie) Every piece of clothing you wear, or use has gone through a complex manufacturing process that uses a high amount of electricity, water, and other energy sources.

Unwanted textiles and clothes recycling & upcycling save energy by reducing or eliminating the need to make materials from scratch. Before you purchase a new piece of clothing, shoes etc, always think do I need it and will I wear it. 

 2. Pass/Swap/Hand Them Down 

Before you decide to dispose of or recycle the clothes and textiles that you no longer use or wear, consider passing them on to a friend or a family member if they might be interested in them. Remember to be honest about any damage and wash the clothes before you pass them along. There are also several online platforms that allow you to swap or re-sell your clothing, such as Facebook Marketplace & Depop to name just a few options available. 

Alternatively, you can also see if those closest to you are up for swapping a few items. Invite them over for a few drinks and get the party started. This way you are recycling clothes by giving them a new life & everyone goes home happy with some new pieces they can add to their wardrobe for free!  

 3. Donate To Charity

You can also donate clothes & textiles in good condition to local charity shops as there are often non-profits and charities that would be extremely grateful for your donation. Over 10 million garments per annum are handled via charity or second-hand shops. Using charity shops often means the sales from the clothing benefit causes in your local area or community.

Some organisations accepting clothing donations are Enable Ireland, Oxfam, NCBI, Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) and Liberty Recycling. The Irish Charity Shops Association website will help you to find your nearest charity shops & clothing banks near you. 

4. Transform & Upcycle – An Alternative Way of Clothes Recycling

You can transform clothes that are damaged, stained/have holes into new items such as face masks, tablecloths, cleaning cloths, blankets, padding for chairs, bags, t-shirts and so much more! Interested in alternative ways of clothes recycling? All it takes is a little creativity and vision. You can check out Pinterest or some DIY YouTube videos for inspiration. 

5. Civic Amenity Sites

If you feel you cannot do any of the above with large volumes of old textiles, you can always bring them to your local civic amenity site or clothing banks near you. Some of our civic amenity sites will also accept any type of clothing, footwear, textiles, including blankets at selected civic amenity sites. However, an extra charge would apply for disposing of bedding and mattresses. By disposing of your clothing & textile items correctly you are playing your part in making for a cleaner, greener environment.   

How Is The Process For Old Textiles & Clothes Recycling? 

• After your clothes are collected from the various points the first step to clothes recycling is to segregate them into wearable and unwearable, or usable and unusable products. In most cases washing facilities are used to prepare the clothes for re-use of re-sale. 
• Once the textiles are properly sorted, they are then pulled into fibres or shredded, which results in yarn. Depending on the end use of the yarn, other fibres may be added into the mix. It then is re-spun so that it can be reused, either by being knitted or woven. 
• Any fibre that cannot be spun into yards is compressed into filling, such as insulation or textile filling inside of mattresses. 
• If you’re recycling polyester-based textiles, these are granulated into polyester chips. The chips are then melted so that they can create new fibres for new polyester textiles. 
• In recent years the most popular method of re-using clothes is charity shops or re-se second chance shops 

Top Barna Textiles & Clothes Recycling Tips: 

• The big advantage of charity shops is not only are the clothes re-used and not treated as waste, and it also helps provide financial assistance to a particular charity. 
• If dropping your unwanted clothes to a charity shop, familiarise yourself with other items they make take for upcycling or re-selling such as household goods, books, electrical items etc not all if these shops are dedicated only to clothes. 
• When dropping off clothes always have a look at what’s for re-sale and help the charity by purchasing something on the same journey. 
• Bedclothes, duvets are not always accepted by all charities check in advance of travelling. 
• It’s important to point out clothes that are heavily soiled or damaged can still be taken in some banks and this should be checked in advance. 
• Old clothing not able for re-use can still be put to good use by being shredded and re-used for things such as furniture stuffing.  

Now that you know there are plenty of sustainable options for old textile and clothes recycling and disposal, how about sharing these tips with your friends and family?

Barna Recycling’s Complete Moving House Checklist: Student Edition

With finishing exams season and the academic year ending, it is that time of the year again where students move back home for the summer months. At Barna Recycling, we understand that moving out can be very hectic especially when you are living in rented student accommodation.

A frequent practice by students is to bring home unnecessary waste and items that they will never use again after the academic year is over. So instead of having to bring all this waste back home in the car, it’s a good idea to do a complete clear-out of your student accommodation.

Below we provide some of our top tricks and tips for students and parents owners that will help you on moving day! Sometimes it is difficult to know where you can dispose of your rubbish, what to do with any books, exam papers and notes that you don’t want to see the sight of again. You are probably wondering where to put all the cans, glass bottles, traffic cones, election posters or any other mysterious items you may have collected throughout the year.

How can I dispose of my rubbish?

When moving out of your rental accommodation, it is difficult to know which waste items from your home clear out would go into your usual waste bins and what shouldn’t. You want to the leave the property as clean as possible as it was when you moved in.
This Newsletter will provide valuable tips and tricks for students and parents.

Students

• Books & Papers: If you have old college books in good condition, you can donate them to the college library or request the student’s union to sell them on your behalf. Alternatively, you can pass them on to someone who has signed up to do the same course/subject in the upcoming academic year. If the books can’t be reused, you can put old books in your recycling bin.
• Glass Bottles: If you need to dispose of glass bottles, visit your nearest bottle bank. However, make sure they are washed, dried, and separated into brown, clear or green glass.
• Cans: once washed can go in your recycling bin too.
• Clothes, Bedding & Mattresses: Any type of old clothing, footwear, textiles including blankets in unusable condition can be brought to your local civic amenity sites to be disposed off a reduced rate. Alternatively, clothes in usable condition that you no longer want can be given to siblings or friends, brought to a charity shop or your nearest, clothes bank.
• Electrical items: You can bring unwanted electrical waste, more commonly known as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), such as Computers, Monitors, Mobile Phones, Electronic Toys, Game consoles, Speakers, Headphones and electrical appliances to your local amenity site to dispose it free of charge. Check out our blog to find out more about disposing of WEEE items.
• Kitchen Items: If you have kitchen items that are in good condition but do not need to be kept, a charity shop would only be delighted to receive them.

Parents

If helping clear out their student accommodation, come prepared with a bucket load of patience, rubber gloves, cleaning items and black bags

• Help them to decide what items they want to keep and what needs to be thrown out.
• Have a rubbish bag prepared for general waste and one for recycling
• Try and decide what they want to do with the bulky items first such as the bed clothes, pots and pans, kettles etc If they are being dumped or recycled it will save quite a bit of space in the car. If they are being kept, then it will help them to see that there is little room left in the car and to be stricter about what they are keeping.
• Encourage them to go through clothes and dump anything that is well worn or has holes in it (provided it’s not the good jeans with rips at the knees!)
• To make the process fast and efficient, while the student is sorting through their room, you could be packing up items in the kitchen and cleaning out their presses.
• Encourage them to recycle or sell on any old books, notes, clothes, or other useful items such as a bike before the moving out date.
• If the kitchen items are in good condition but do not need to be kept, a charity shop would only be delighted to receive them.
• Many charities often have collection points or van pickups at universities so make sure to ask or enquire about these services if suitable.

Get to Know Your Local Civic Amenity Site

Barna Recycling’s purpose-built Civic Amenity Sites will assist you greatly when moving out of your home. We have seven civic amenity sites across Connacht for your convenience, where you can dispose of a large variety of non-hazardous and recyclable household waste at a reduced cost. Visit our website to find out where your nearest recycling centres might be located

Here are some of the benefits of using one of our civic amenity sites.

• They are cost-effective and cheap to use.
• Accept a wide range of items, including hazardous materials.
• They are clean, local, and easily accessible.
• Open on weekends to make them more accessible to all.
• They are well laid out and marked for each waste material.
• Cater for small and large deliveries in the exact location.
• Provide WEEE and Glass Bottle services free of charge.
• Cater for small and large deliveries in the exact location.

The items accepted will vary for each of our civic amenity sites. Please be sure to call in advance or check our website for the complete list of items accepted at your nearest centre. The charges for the items you bring to the respective civic amenity centre will be based on the type of vehicle you have, not the quantity or weight of the waste items themselves.

Our Barna Recycling team are always on hand at our civic amenity sites to greet you on arrival, assist you with drop-offs, and provide you with advice and information about recycling and waste disposal.

Alternatively, you can choose to hire a skip, which also makes throwing away rubbish much quicker and easier. At Barna Recycling, we have skips of all sizes for all purposes, so you can be sure we will have one to suit your needs and requirements– have a look at our helpful skip sizing guide here for more information.

If you would like more information on where to dispose of certain items or order a skip, give us a call today on 091 771619.

Barna Recycling’s Easy Guide to a Spring Home Clear-out

With summer sunshine truly underway, we are all enjoying the current spell of good weather. If you are like us, you would agree that now is the perfect time to declutter your homes inside out to enjoy the summer months. However, you might often wonder what waste items from your home clear out would go into your usual waste bins and what shouldn’t.

In this article, we have outlined some tips and key information to help you understand what can and can’t go into your waste bin and how to dispose of oversized items that can’t fit in your household bins.

So, what can go into your General waste bins?

• Nappies
• Ashes (Must be cooled and tied in a bag to reduce the risk of fire and dirtying the bins)
• Tin Foil
• Aero board
• Contaminated & Wet Paper

Check out our blog on top tips for waste awareness & disposal for more detailed information.

Items that cannot go into your General Waste Bin

• Paint cans – You can bring them to a local Civic Amenity Site
• Clothes can’t go in your waste bin but can be brought to a clothes bank or charity shop.
• IT equipment and electrical goods are more commonly referred to as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)– You can find out more about disposing of WEEE items at our blog.
• Batteries – You can bring used batteries back to shops, many supermarkets have drop off points to recycle batteries,
• Glass – should be washed and brought to your nearest bottle bank,
• Duvets can’t be disposed of in your waste bin, but they can be brought to your local Civic Amenity Site
• Bulky waste items – Old furniture, couches, mattresses, tables, and large household appliances that have seen the end of its useable life can be brought to a local civic amenity site near you.

Hiring a skip

You can consider hiring a skip for larger items that can’t be disposed of in your general waste bin, which makes decluttering your homes so much easier. At Barna Recycling, we have skips of all sizes, so you can be sure we’ll have one to suit your needs and the space available to you – check out our handy skip sizing guide here.

Benefits of hiring a skip:

• You can keep the skip as long as you require it. *Please be advised that a weekly rental charge may apply
• You have the convenience of not having to take large, awkward items in your car to the Civic Amenity Site.
• If you are a Barna Recycling customer, you can get a discount if you order a skip from us. All you need is to have your Barna Recycling Account number handy.

Items that can’t go in a skip are as follows:

• Hazardous Waste: A significant rule that is often forgotten is that hazardous waste should not go in a skip. It can leak and contaminate other recyclable materials.
• Asbestos: If you come across asbestos during a renovation project or a home clear out, this must be dealt with by a team of specialists and not put into a general skip.
• Appliances: Other items that we find cause great confusion is around electrical items, especially large household items. Refrigerators, freezers, microwaves & cookers should not go in a skip but instead, be brought to a Civic Amenity Site.
• Oil or Paint cans, Tyres
• Solvents, fuels, and batteries
• Chemicals, flammable materials
• Household waste includes food scraps, soiled nappies, and sanitary items.
• Liquid Concrete

For more information on skip hire, do not hesitate to contact a member of our skip hire team on 091 771619.

Overview Of Barna Recycling’s Household Mobile App Update

*COMPETITION TIME! *

We are giving four lucky customers the chance to win up to 6 months of free service (up to the value of €190.00) by Downloading the New Version of the household App
Any customer who has downloaded and logged into the App from 1st December 2021 to 30th April 2022 will be automatically included in the draw. Winners will be notified via email.

With a range of new and improved features, the upgraded version of our mobile app has been designed to help you manage your waste and recycling needs.

• For Android users: Simply uninstall the existing Barna Recycling App on your phone and search for Barna Recycling in the App Store and install the new version.
• iPhone users, on the other hand, should notice an automatic update of their existing app to the upgraded version.

Below we have provided an overview of new features and updates of the mobile app for effective household waste management.

Key Features & Benefits of Barna Recycling’s Household Mobile App

• Improved collection reminders: make sure you turn on your notifications
• View your collection calendar.
• View your bin collection history.
• Monitor the weight of the waste disposed.
• Pay and/or top up your account and view account transactions.  Use Snap Pay to safely and securely save your credit card details to the App and pay your Barna Recycling bill.
• Add Direct Debit details through Account Support.
• Contact our customer support team through Account Support for any queries

Overview of New Features

Below is an overview of new features we have introduced as part of our latest upgrade.

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s): A new FAQ section is now available to provide customers concrete answers to their questions surrounding billing, payments, collection and bin queries and additional services.

• Update Contact details or address: We have introduced quick and easy steps for customers to update your details on the app. *Once updated it can take up to 48 hours to reflect on the app*

Customer Account Support

What would you like help with today? Find solutions to common problems or get help from a customer care agent. Contact us.

Logging In and Security

To login to the household customer mobile app, you need to have your Barna Recycling user account number and PIN ready.

If you have forgotten our pin – you can recover it through the ‘Recover Pin’ option.
We have also added two-factor app authentication as another layer of security for our customers when accessing features and areas within the app that contain your personal or financial information. My account, Snap Pay and Support. This will require customers to confirm they are authorised to access the data listed.

A One Time PIN (OTP) will be sent to either the email or mobile number associated with the Barna Recycling Account via SMS. Upon entering the OTP, the App will confirm if the Passcode is correct. Once the customer clicks on Confirm Code. They will now have full access to the App.

They will only have to do this once per device. If they download the App to a second device, they will need to enter OTP for that new device.

Barna Recycling’s Top Tips to Disposing Bulky Waste Items

We all have those large items in our house that always tend to take up too much space, yet we never get around to disposing them because are unsure how. These large waste items can be classified as “Bulky Waste”, as they are items that cannot fit in your general waste bins (example: furniture, bedding). We often get asked by customers what to do with these bulky waste items.

Below we have outlined some of our top tips to help you dispose of bulky waste efficiently and effectively.

First, let’s have a look at some of the common bulky waste items:

• Couches
• Chairs
• Tables
• Mattress – Did you know? Around eighty per cent (80%) of most mattress’ components can be recycled.
• Old furniture such as wardrobes, bed frames
• Large household appliances (fridges, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers)
• TV

Donate To Charity

Before you dispose of your bulky waste in the trash, if it’s in a good condition you could always donate it to a local charity. There are several charities around the country that are willing to collect old but clean and functional furniture from your home and bring it to those in need. The Irish Charity Shops Association website will help you to find the nearest charity shops near you. Be sure to check in advance if the charity shop accepts furniture and large items.

Why not try upcycling?

If you’re still in love with your old furniture and want to get the maximum use out of it, you could always try to upcycle them where possible to create something entirely new. It is also a nice way to spend your weekends, by getting your creative juices flowing. And chances are you could end up creating something spectacular that you can advertise to sell and make some money. Need some more convincing? Check out MyWaste.ie’s video content around upcycling and selling items – Click Here

Civic Amenity Sites

If your bulky item has seen the end of its useable life, and you feel you cannot do any of the above, you can always bring them to your local civic amenity site near you. However, an extra charge would apply for disposing of bedding and mattresses.

A member of the Barna Recycling team will meet you on arrival at the civic amenity site, to identify the contents you want to dispose of. Our experienced and helpful staff will advise you and direct you towards where the materials should be put on site.

On some days and at some sites there are people to help you with the unloading of materials, but this isn’t always the case. If you need help you can always give us a ring to let us know in advance, and a member of our team will be happy to assist you.

Don’t forget we also accept the below free of charge – Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) For more info on how to correctly dispose of WEEE click here

Get the most out of your visit to our civic amenity sites by planning ahead. To see more information about our Civic Amenity Sites please CLICK HERE

Barna Recycling’s Guide to Household Waste Disposal

The first quarter of the year is the ideal time to start practising new habits when it comes to waste disposal, which we hope you will add to your list of new year resolutions!

And if like us you want to maintain a structured household waste disposal system that is easy to follow, you might be unsure where to start. But you would be delighted to know simple changes to your shopping and waste management habits is all it takes to be more sustainable.

Below we have outlined some of our top tips to make household waste disposal more sustainable for you in 2022:

Food Waste:

Firstly, let’s have a look at some top tips to keep in mind when it comes to Food Waste:

• Keep an organic/food bin in your kitchen to toss all your vegetable peels, leftover seeds, eggshells, etc., while you are cooking.
• Be sure to store your fruits and vegetables correctly and use your freezer to reduce wastage and get the most out of your fresh food.
• As much as possible, try not to toss out any leftover food in good condition. You can always store it in the fridge and reheat it again for lunch the next day.
• Plan your meals – Creating a meal plan for the week and meal prepping in advance can help you save time and get the most out of your produce.
• Home Composting is also an excellent way to get the most out of your organic food as well as your green garden waste. Click here to check out our helpful guide on composting to get started!

Shopping:

• Be sure to check your fridge and cupboards in advance and make a list of all the items that you need before heading to the supermarket for your weekly or monthly grocery haul beforehand. Sticking to a list will ensure you are effectively managing waste by reducing consumption and buying less.
• Always opt FOR reusable shopping bags to limit plastic waste. Be sure to keep reusable bags in your car or close to the front door or someplace to remind you to take it with you.
• Likewise, avoid using small plastic bags when picking up fresh fruits or vegetables. Some supermarkets also provide sustainable options that are good for the environment.
• When it comes to toiletries, cosmetics or household items opt for products that come with sustainable or biodegradable packaging materials that can be reused or recycled easily. With boxes or bubble wrap, it is always a clever idea to re-use them where possible.

Here at Barna, we find that there is always some confusion around which bin packaging items should go in. Check out our blog on correctly disposing of different types of packaging waste.

Announcement: Barna Recycling Household Mobile App Update 2022

The Barna Recycling team is happy to announce the launch of our newly updated household customer mobile app, with a range of new features and improved functionalities to make your life easier.

Android users:

• Simply uninstall the existing Barna Recycling App on your phone.
• Once that’s done search for Barna Recycling in the App Store and install the latest version.

iPhone users however should notice an automatic update of their existing app to the latest version.

If you have large volumes of waste that cannot fit into your household bins, you can drop them off at one of our seven local civic amenity sites across Connacht to dispose of them at a reduced cost. Visit our website to find out where your nearest recycling centres might be located. If you have any questions on skip hire, do not hesitate to contact a member of our skip hire team on 091 771619. Also, check out our helpful skip sizing guide here.

Barna Recycling’s Guide To Recycling In 2022

Happy New Year!! It’s that time of year again when we have to say goodbye to our beloved Christmas Tree & decorations. While some people are putting this task off until the very last minute, most of us are inclined to remove our Christmas decorations before they become a nuisance.

At Barna Recycling, we understand a post-Christmas clear out in the new year, especially while we are all still recovering from the holiday season & settling back into our daily routines. We hope to simplify things for you by outlining some of our top tips on managing and recycling your Christmas waste correctly.

1. Christmas Trees

Barna Recycling would advise all of our customers to dispose of their trees in a responsible and effective manner. No one likes to see a sad Christmas tree on the side of the road. The good news is that real Christmas trees can easily be recycled, replanted or shredded into chippings and used in parkland areas. On the other hand, Artificial Christmas trees cannot be recycled but reused and donated to family, friends, or a local charity shop. If any of these are not possible, you can also bring your artificial Christmas trees to a civic amenity site to dispose of.

Find out more ways to dispose of your Christmas tree here.

2. Baubles

Glass and metal baubles can be brought to your local civic amenity site. Glass baubles can also be disposed of in the glass bottle recycling bank. Plastic baubles which are hung on your Christmas tree need to be placed in the waste bin as this type of plastic cannot be recycled. It is also important to remember that baubles are not made for one-time use, so try to reuse them as much as possible. You can get large storage boxes with lids that will keep the baubles safe and you can keep them safely stacked on top of one another.

3. Christmas Lights

Unusable or broken Christmas lights must be brought to the civic amenity site as they are not suitable for recycling. If you are purchasing new lights, the retailer may take the old lights for you, depending on where you are shopping.

4. Christmas decorations

Tinsel and ribbons can only be disposed of in the general waste bin as they are not suitable for recycling. Again, you don’t need to dispose them off every year. They can be stored neatly in storage boxes in the attic and reused every year.

5. Christmas Cards

You can place Christmas cards directly in the household recycling (blue) Barna bin. Going forward, you could also consider sending Christmas cards with a family photo, which is more personal and will likely be kept rather than thrown away.

6. Christmas Wreaths

The Christmas wreath you hang on your door must be taken apart before it can be disposed of. Compostable material can be added to your compost bin. The remaining material needs to be dried out and then placed in your waste bin.

7. Wrapping paper

All wrapping paper is 100% recyclable so don’t be afraid to place this in your recycling bin once all the presents are opened.

8. Batteries & Electrical items

Batteries cannot be disposed of in any of your household bins. You must bring them back to where you purchased them or to a civic amenity site. Alternatively, some supermarkets like Aldi allow customers to dispose of their used batteries directly in some of their stores. Electrical items such as chargers also need to be disposed of correctly. They need to be returned to where you purchased them or should be brought to a designated WEEE drop-off recycling point or your local Civic Amenity Site to be disposed of. Click here for more information on how to dispose of WEEE the right way.

9. Food Waste

Along with everything else that goes with Christmas, you must also manage the excess food waste and cooking equipment. Aluminium cooking trays can only be disposed of in your waste bin. Thankfully, many food and nutrition companies are more aware of the importance of recycling and have changed their packaging to be completely recyclable. Make sure to check this on the packaging before getting rid of it to ensure it is disposed of correctly.

You must also wash containers such as milk cartons before placing them in the recycling bin to ensure no residue is left in them. Food Hampers & gifts such as cheese, nuts, jams, pasta, biscuits & chocolates usually have a long shelf life; therefore can be stored and consumed over a period of time. Leftover food from Christmas dinner can be stored away correctly and reused the next day. The remainder of the food can be used as compost. Unused fruits, vegetables, potato peels, tea bags, coffee grounds, eggshells and flowers can all be added to your compost heap. You can also place these items in your brown Barna bin so that it is collected, processed and made into compost. This is then used as a fertilizer for farming.

For more information about food waste management, check out our blog here.

The Barna Recycling team would like to take this opportunity to wish all our valued customers a happy & prosperous New Year!

Top Tips To Declutter Your Home Before The Holidays

Its finally the holiday season! We all love the holidays and getting into the festive spirit, as it means we can finally begin to relax and spend time with our family & loved ones. But there is no denying it can also be the most busiest and chaotic time of the year! This season is usually the time when more waste is produced, and if you are like us you want to make sure your house is clutter-free for the holiday season.

Below we have outlined some of our top tips to follow for a stress-free festive season!

Christmas Lights & Decorations:

• If you have old Christmas lights in unusable condition you can bring them to your local civic amenity site or if you are purchasing replacement lights, the retailer should be happy to take the old ones off your hands.
• As for old Christmas decorations tinsel and plastic baubles; these are waste items, so they can go in your waste bin. Glass baubles can be brought to local bottle banks or civic amenity sites.
• Any old decorations made from a single material such as paper, card or rigid plastic only can be placed in the recycling bin.
• If a decoration is powered by a battery or has any sort of plug, be sure to remove battery separately for recycling, it is considered a WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) item and should be disposed of in a proper manner. (Source: mywaste.ie)
• This should be brought to a WEEE drop-off recycling point or your local Civic Amenity Site to be disposed of. Click here for more information on how to dispose of WEEE the right way

Christmas Shopping & Deliveries

• Cardboard Boxes: This can be disposed of in your recycling bin, however, ensure you remove as much packaging tape as you can first and break them down before you dispose them.
•  Soft packaging such as wrappers, plastic bags and bubble wrap have been added to the household recycling list earlier this year. Re-use boxes & bubble wrap where possible, if not usable then throw them into your recycling bin.
• Polystyrene foam can ONLY be recycled when separately collected, some civic amenity centres may accept it but be sure to check locally before you arrive. Otherwise, it should always be placed in the general waste bin.
• Be sure to check your recycling/general waste bins for any packages from time to time. Although unlikely some courier delivery drivers have been known to leave packages in the bins when there’s nobody is in the house at the time of delivery.

Christmas Cards & Gifts

It can often be a good idea to have a plan in place on how you and your family will handle Christmas waste. It’s important to understand what to do when Christmas cards, gifts and your online shopping start arriving. Below are some tips to dispose them off correctly:

• If you happen to receive Christmas cards by post, or if you have old/unusable Christmas cards, you can cut them up and use them to make labels for presents. Alternatively, it’s good to know that these can go in your recycling bin.
• Try to reuse envelopes by sticking labels over the address or you can simply dispose it in the recycling bin if it is unusable.
• A lot of common Christmas items such as wrapping paper and old Christmas lights can be brought to your local civic amenity sites or put in your recycling bin.
• When receiving gifts be sure to take off any Sellotape before putting the gift wrapper in the recycling bin.
• When you receive gift bags, try to re-use them as much as possible

Barna Recycling’s Top Tips for Christmas Upcycling:

At Barna Recycling, we actively encourage our customers to upcycle and reuse items where possible as it’s better for the environment, saves money and resources. Below are some of our favourite upcycling ideas for Christmas decorations, they are a fun way to get the kids as well as the whole family involved in upcycling.

• You can use old light bulbs or papers to create a funky bobble decoration for your tree. You can see the below style and more ideas here.
•  You can use wooden clothespins, hot glue and ribbons to make your own Christmas star. Click here to learn how.
• Create a unique garland/wreath using old piano sheets, leftover gift tags, paper & more. See ideas here.
• Don’t toss your wine bottles, they make for beautiful candle holders to light up your festive dinner.
• Make homemade Christmas cards using up old buttons, fabrics & broken jewellery.

Our Civic Amenity Sites will assist you greatly when clearing out your home before Christmas. We have seven civic amenity sites across Connacht for your convenience, where you can dispose of a large variety of recyclable Christmas waste items like wrapping paper, cardboard and Christmas lights at a reduced cost. Click here to read the benefits of using one of our civic amenity’s sites.

For larger Christmas waste items that cannot be disposed of in your general waste bin, you can consider hiring a skip. At Barna Recycling we have skips of all sizes, so you can be sure we’ll have one to suit your needs and the space available to you – check out our useful skip sizing guide here.

Barna Recycling’s Top Tips For Recycling & Upcycling Old Clothing/Textiles

Here at Barna Recycling, we often find our customers wondering the best way to dispose of old clothes and textiles that have already seen their share of wear & tear. But don’t worry, we got you covered. This blog has outlined plenty of sustainable ways for you to repurpose, recycle, and dispose of old textiles.

1) Shop Smart

Did you know that the textile industry is the second largest contributor to global pollution? (Source: mywaste.ie)

Every piece of clothing you own or use has undergone a complex manufacturing process that utilises a high amount of electricity, water, and energy sources.

When you choose to recycle & upcycle unwanted textiles, you save energy by reducing/ eliminating the need to make materials from scratch. Before purchasing a new piece of clothing, shoes, etc., always think if you need it and will you wear it.

2) Donate to charity

You can also donate clothes & textiles in good condition to local charity shops as there are often non-profits and charities that would be highly grateful for your donation. Generally, the proceeds from clothing sales in charity shops are used to support causes in your local area or community. Some organisations accepting clothing donations are Enable Ireland, Oxfam, NCBI, Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) and Liberty Recycling. The Irish Charity Shops Association website will help you to find your nearest charity shops & clothing banks near you.

Top Barna Recycling Tips:

• When you donate clothes to a charity shop, you give life to your old clothes and provide financial assistance towards a good cause.
• When dropping your unwanted clothes at a charity shop, familiarise yourself with other items they may accept for upcycling or re-selling, such as household goods, books, electrical items etc., as some of these shops also take things other than clothes.
• When dropping off clothes, always look at what’s for re-sale and help the charity by purchasing something on the same journey.
• Be sure to check in advance if the charity shop accepts bedclothes & duvets.
• It’s essential to check in advance if heavily soiled or damaged clothes will still be taken in some banks.
• Old clothing that cannot be re-used can still be shredded first and used for furniture stuffing.

3) Swap/hand them down

If you have used clothes & textiles in good condition, another idea is to passing them on to a friend or a family member if they might be interested in them. Remember to be honest about any damage and wash the clothes before you pass them along. Alternatively, you can also swap a few item with the ones closest to you. This way, you are giving your clothes a new life & everyone walks away happy with some new pieces they can add to their wardrobe for free!

Online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace & Depop also allow you to swap or re-sell your clothing.

4) Transform & Upcycle

With a bit of creativity, you can transform damaged/stained clothes into new items such as face masks, tablecloths, cleaning cloths, blankets, padding for chairs, bags, t-shirts, and so much more! You can check out Pinterest or some DIY YouTube videos for inspiration.

5) Civic Amenity Sites

If you feel you cannot do any of the above, you can always bring large volumes of your old textiles to your local civic amenity site or clothing banks near you. Some of our civic amenity sites will also accept any type of clothing, footwear, textiles, including blankets at selected civic amenity sites. However, an extra charge would apply for disposing of bedding and mattresses.

How does fabric get recycled?

• After your clothes are collected from various points, the first step is to segregate them into wearable, unusable and usable garments or products.
• Once the sorting is done, the textiles are shredded & pulled into fibres to form yarn. Other fibres may be added to the mix depending on the end-use of the yarn. The yarn is then re-spun to be re-used, either by being knitted or woven.
• Any fibre that cannot be made into yarns is processed into fillings, such as insulation or textile filling inside mattresses.
• If you’re recycling polyester-based textiles, these are granulated into polyester chips. The chips are melted so that they can create new fibres for new polyester textiles.
• In recent years the most popular method of re-using clothes is through charity shops or re-selling to second-hand shops.