The short answer
Published by John Fox, BinDay. Last updated 29 October 2026.
Clean tin foil and aluminium trays go in household recycling in Ireland. Remove all food residue, keep the foil dry and scrunch it into a ball before putting it loose in the bin. MyWaste sends soiled foil and containers to general waste. Foil with food still stuck to it is not clean recycling.
Last checked 29 October 2026 by BinDay against the sources below. This guide covers the Republic of Ireland; bin colours and collector instructions can differ.
Why this answer
MyWaste accepts kitchen foil only when it is clean and free of food residue. It recommends scrunching foil and trays together into a ball so they are easier to recycle.
The MyWaste residual-waste guide lists soiled aluminium foil and containers. Keep that distinction clear when sorting foil used for cooking or takeaway food.
What to do
- Remove all food residue from the foil or tray.
- Keep clean foil dry and scrunch it together into a ball.
- Put clean foil loose in recycling. Put soiled foil in general waste.
Common mistake to avoid
Do not put food-soiled foil in recycling simply because it is made of aluminium.
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Sources and local checks
For a collection point, check what it accepts before travelling. For household-bin instructions, find your collector. How BinDay checks sources and corrects mistakes.
Council pages for this item
Irish local authorities license private collectors rather than running household bin rounds. Use the council page for civic amenity and official waste links, then confirm your collector.