If you’re a Dublin household trying to figure out what you’ll actually pay Panda to collect your bins, the numbers can feel scattered across different plans, regions, and fine print. North Dublin customers pay flat monthly rates ranging from €27.50 to €38, while south Dublin customers face lower base rates plus per-kilogram charges.

4 related posts

Panda General Waste Bin: from €13.50/lift · Panda Monthly Plans Range: €20–€40 depending on region · Green Waste Car Load: €10 · Dublin Competitors Start At: €24/month

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact per-lift rates for south Dublin recycling under monthly plans
  • Whether all Dublin regions face the same February 2026 increases
  • Full breakdown of add-on services such as bin washing
3Timeline signal
  • January 2025: Major price increase across Dublin, Cork, Galway, Meath, Wicklow, and Wexford
  • February 2026: Fingal customers saw further rise
  • Current pricing varies significantly by region
4What’s next
Item Value Source
Monthly General Waste (North Dublin) €27.50 – €38.00 Selectra Ireland comparison platform
General Waste per Lift (North Dublin) €13.50 (2025), €14.75 (Feb 2026 Fingal) Sinn Féin political party, Switcher price comparison site
Recycling per Lift (North Dublin) €1.25 (Feb 2025) Sinn Féin political party
Half-Yearly Service Charge €70 (2025), €75 (Feb 2026 Fingal) Sinn Féin political party
Infrastructure Investment (2020–2025) €80 million Panda Waste official review
Customers Affected (North Dublin) 300,000 Sinn Féin political party

How much is panda waste per month?

Panda charges depend heavily on where you live in Dublin. North Dublin customers pay a flat monthly rate covering a set weight allowance, while south Dublin customers pay a lower base rate plus per-kilogram charges for anything over the limit. According to Selectra (comparison platform), Panda monthly plans range from €20 to €40 across these different structures.

Standard bin collection rates

For north Dublin, the three main plans as of March 2026 are:

  • Essential: €27.50 per month
  • Standard: €32.00 per month (most popular tier)
  • Plus: €38.00 per month (designed for 5+ person households)

These prices come from Selectra Ireland (aggregator of household utility plans) and represent what north Dublin customers pay for fortnightly collection with weight limits built in.

Plan variations by bin size

The plans differ in how much general waste you can put out each month. The Standard plan allows up to 65kg of general waste per collection in north Dublin, while south Dublin customers on the equivalent tier face a 42kg limit. That difference of 23kg can matter for larger households.

Beyond the monthly plans, Panda also offers a pay-per-lift option for customers who want flexibility. Under that model, you pay a €9.50 monthly service charge plus per-lift fees for each bin type. The rates vary by region, but in north Dublin, a black bin lift costs €13.50, a brown bin lift costs €3.80, and a green bin lift costs €1.25 according to The Irish Times (national newspaper covering personal finance).

Bottom line: North Dublin households should budget €27.50–€38/month for Panda’s fixed plans, while south Dublin residents face lower upfront costs but risk higher bills from per-kilogram overage charges.

Which bin company is the cheapest?

The cheapest bin company in Dublin depends partly on which part of the city you live in, but Money Guide Ireland (personal finance comparison site) lists the following monthly plans available across Dublin as of early 2026:

Dublin market overview

Seven providers compete across the Dublin market with comparable service tiers. The spread is tighter than many assume — most providers cluster around the €24–€32/month range for similar waste allowances.

Provider Monthly Cost Annual Cost Waste Allowance Collection
City Bin €24 €288 30kg general waste Bi-weekly (3 bins)
Thorntons Eco Band Light €24 €288 30kg general waste Bi-weekly (3 bins)
Greyhound Standard €25 €300 32kg general waste Bi-weekly
Panda Option 1 €25 €300 32kg general waste Fortnightly
Panda Option 2 €28 €336 42kg general waste Fortnightly
Panda Option 3 €32.50 €390 65kg general waste Fortnightly
Panda Standard (North Dublin) €32 €384 65kg general waste Fortnightly

Price comparison table

City Bin and Thorntons currently offer the lowest entry price at €24/month with identical waste allowances. Panda’s cheapest option at €25/month under Option 1 sits just €1 above that benchmark. At the mid-range, Panda’s Option 2 at €28/month aligns with basic competitors but offers more generous weight limits.

The implication: if you have a smaller household with standard waste output, City Bin or Thorntons likely represent better value. But for larger families needing more waste capacity, Panda’s higher-tier options provide more allowance per euro than the budget competitors.

The upshot

City Bin and Thorntons currently undercut Panda at the entry level by €1–€8/month. For households with modest waste, that difference adds up to €96 annually. Check what your current provider charges for overage weight — sometimes a €3 more expensive plan saves money if it has a higher allowance.

Why is panda so expensive?

Panda points to its infrastructure investment as justification for higher pricing. The company invested €80 million over five years in waste processing and recycling facilities, and has committed to spending another €100 million over the next five years aligned with Ireland’s Climate Action Plan and EU Green Deal objectives, according to Panda’s own 2025 review.

Service inclusions

Panda’s higher pricing does come with some inclusions. The monthly plans in north Dublin include fortnightly collection of all bin types (general, recycling, brown bin), and the Standard plan’s 65kg weight limit is notably higher than the 42kg south Dublin equivalent. For households that regularly hit weight limits with competitors, Panda’s ceiling may reduce surprise overage charges.

The January 2025 increase drew criticism from politicians. Cllr Daithí Doolan (Sinn Féin, South Dublin County Council) publicly stated that the near-15% jump in general waste charges was unjustified for households already managing tight budgets. Jennifer Whitmore, TD for Wicklow and climate spokesperson for the Social Democrats, called the increases unjustified at the time.

Pros and cons vs budget options

Upsides

  • North Dublin Standard includes 65kg allowance — higher than south Dublin equivalent and most competitors
  • Operates across 20 counties — established national provider with consistent service standards
  • Part of Beauparc Utility Group — corporate backing for infrastructure investment
  • One month free offer available on home collections (per panda.ie homepage)

Downsides

  • Higher base prices than City Bin, Thorntons, and Greyhound at entry level
  • South Dublin customers face additional per-kilogram charges beyond base rate
  • Weight limits differ significantly between regions — 42kg vs 65kg for same plan tier
  • Pay-per-lift option costs €13.50 per black bin lift in north Dublin — expensive for occasional use
Bottom line: What this means: Panda makes sense for larger households in north Dublin who regularly need to dispose of more than 42kg of waste per fortnight. For smaller households or those in south Dublin watching per-kilogram overages, the budget competitors likely represent better value.

How much is panda bin washing?

The research notes indicate bin washing is available but do not include specific verified pricing for this service. Panda’s website lists additional services beyond standard collection, but exact rates for washing require direct inquiry with the company.

Washing service costs

Bin washing costs are not publicly listed on Panda’s site or in the comparison aggregators reviewed. Customers interested in this add-on should contact Panda directly for a quote, as pricing likely varies by bin type, frequency, and location.

Related add-ons

Beyond washing, Panda offers various add-ons including glass collection services (priced at €13.50 per lift under the pay-per-lift model), compost collection (€5.00 per lift), and additional bin rentals. The full menu of add-ons and their costs requires a direct consultation with Panda’s sales team.

The catch: add-on pricing is not transparent on Panda’s public-facing materials. Competitors such as Greyhound and City Bin also offer similar optional services, so comparing add-on costs between providers requires getting firm quotes from each.

What to watch

Ask any provider for the full cost of services you might need — not just the base monthly rate. Glass collection at €13.50 per lift adds up fast for households that recycle bottles regularly. A €2–€3/month cheaper base plan becomes more expensive if you then pay €13.50 per glass lift eight times a year.

What is the cheapest bin company in Dublin?

Based on publicly listed prices, City Bin and Thorntons both offer the cheapest entry point at €24/month for households producing up to 30kg of general waste per fortnight. However, “cheapest” depends heavily on your household size, location, and actual waste volume.

Top low-cost providers

  • City Bin: €24/month — best value for small households with modest waste output
  • Thorntons Eco Band Light: €24/month — identical pricing, slightly different collection schedule
  • Greyhound Standard: €25/month — only €1 more than the cheapest, with 32kg allowance
  • Panda Option 1: €25/month — same as Greyhound, but Panda’s pricing structure differs between regions

Factors affecting choice

The cheapest provider for your household depends on several factors beyond base price:

  • Location: North Dublin customers face different pricing structures than south Dublin. Some providers charge differently across postcodes.
  • Waste volume: A budget plan with a 30kg limit costs €24/month, but exceeding that limit triggers overage charges that may make a higher-tier plan cheaper overall.
  • Bin types: Some plans include all bin types fortnightly; others charge separately for recycling or brown bin collection.
  • Contract terms: Some providers offer flexibility to pause or cancel; others lock you into 12-month contracts.

For Dublin households, the path to the cheapest plan isn’t simply picking the lowest advertised number. Comparing the all-in cost based on your actual waste habits matters more than the headline monthly rate.

— TD Jennifer Whitmore (Social Democrats, Wicklow) on Panda’s 2025 increases: “These price hikes are unjustified and will hit families struggling with the cost of living hardest.”

Confirmed vs unconfirmed

Confirmed

  • North Dublin general waste lift at €13.50 (January 2025) — verified by Sinn Féin and multiple sources
  • Recycling lift at €1.25 in north Dublin (February 2025) — a 25% increase from prior rate
  • Half-yearly service charge at €70 (January 2025), rising to €75 in Fingal from February 2026
  • 300,000 north Dublin customers affected by January 2025 increase
  • Monthly plans range €20–€40 depending on region and plan tier
  • Infrastructure investment of €80 million over 2020–2025

Unconfirmed

  • Exact per-lift recycling cost under south Dublin monthly plans
  • Whether February 2026 Fingal increases apply to all Dublin regions
  • Specific bin washing pricing
  • Full breakdown of add-on costs beyond what’s publicly listed

— Cllr Daithí Doolan (Sinn Féin, South Dublin County Council) on the January 2025 price increase: “300,000 household and business customers in North County Dublin are facing increased bin charges that have jumped by nearly 15%.”

Bottom line: Dublin households should compare based on actual waste volume, not just headline rates — Panda Waste’s higher base prices may prove cheaper for larger families in north Dublin, while budget competitors suit smaller households better.

Related reading: Blue Parking Dublin Airport Prices

Additional sources

moneyguideireland.com, irishtimes.com, panda.ie, socialdemocrats.ie, rte.ie, oceanfm.ie, panda.ie, panda.wis.ie

While Panda handles routine bin collections, roll-off dumpster rentals offer scalable solutions for Dublin construction waste at comparable regional rates.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the new 4 bin rule?

Ireland’s waste segregation rules require households to separate general waste, recycling, organic/brown bin waste, and glass into designated bins. The exact bin count varies by local authority, but the 4-bin system refers to these four categories. Panda’s plans cover collection of all these bin types on a fortnightly schedule.

Is it illegal to put rubbish in someone else’s bin?

Yes, it is generally illegal to deposit waste in someone else’s bin without their permission. This falls under illegal dumping legislation and local authorities can issue fines. The practice of “bin poaching” particularly becomes an issue in apartment complexes or densely populated areas where waste disposal costs are shared.

What to Do if Someone Puts Rubbish in Your Skip & Is It Illegal?

If someone deposits rubbish in your skip or bin without permission, you should document the incident with photos, check for any identifying information in the waste, and report it to your local council’s waste enforcement team. While it may not always result in prosecution, local authorities can investigate and issue fines under waste collection regulations.

Can you put old knickers in a clothes bank?

Clothing and textile banks at charity shops and recycling centres typically accept wearable clothing, shoes, and linens in reasonable condition. Underwear that’s worn out is generally not accepted and should be disposed of via general waste or textile recycling schemes specifically designed for damaged items. Consult your local charity or council for specific guidelines on what textiles they accept.

Can I get in trouble for throwing away my ex’s stuff?

If an ex-partner left belongings at your property after a relationship ended, you generally have the right to dispose of items after providing reasonable notice. However, if the items have economic value or the ex disputes ownership, you could face a civil claim. For valuable items, document your attempts to contact them and allow a reasonable timeframe before disposal. When in doubt, consult a solicitor about your specific situation.