The Optus Glean promise: predictability
Three pillars. Three commitments. No exceptions.
Predictable cost. One fixed monthly fee, set against a defined scope and an annual indexed review. No variable hours. No surprise invoices. No padded callout charges. Budgeted once, paid by Direct Debit, reviewed once a year.
Predictable presence. The site is cleaned every day it is meant to be cleaned. A named primary cleaner is rostered to your contract, supported by a named relief who is already vetted, inducted, and trained on the same colour-coded system and IPC standard. The schedule does not depend on whether one person is available on one day.
Predictable freedom. A single point of accountability. One contract. One named manager. One number to call. Cleaning is no longer a problem the site has to manage — it is a service that runs.
Why cleaning in Ireland is structurally hard to get right
Most cleaning provision in Ireland — including in healthcare-adjacent settings — is delivered by a workforce that is structurally part-time and casual. A significant proportion of operatives across the sector also work as healthcare assistants in nursing homes, residential care, and acute hospitals. Cleaning shifts are typically taken when healthcare shifts are not available, and released when they are. This pattern is consistent with CSO labour data on accommodation, food, and administrative-support employment, and it is the underlying reason that buyers across Ireland encounter inconsistency from agencies they have contracted in good faith.
The pattern is reinforced by two background pressures specific to Ireland. Housing affordability limits the catchment for any role paying at or near the minimum wage. The Contract Cleaning Employment Regulation Order rate of €14.80 per hour for 2026, set under the Labour Court's sectoral employment framework, sits close enough to flexible care-sector pay that operatives drift toward whichever shift pays slightly more on the day. Both pressures pull cleaning staff away from contracted shifts and toward casual healthcare work.
The result, from the buyer's perspective, is the experience most practice managers, facilities leads, and procurement officers in Ireland describe: a clean that is half-completed when the contracted cleaner is available, missed entirely when they are not, and accompanied by recurring conversations with the agency about cover that may or may not arrive.
This is the structural problem Optus Glean is built to solve. Our operatives are fully PAYE-employed with guaranteed weekly hours, paid leave, and pension contributions under Irish auto-enrolment. They are paid above the ERO floor deliberately — because the structural reliability of the service depends on the cleaner choosing to remain in the role rather than rotating through casual healthcare shifts. A named primary cleaner is assigned to your site, supported by a named relief, both Garda-vetted and trained to Optus Glean's documented HIQA-aligned IPC standard.
Waste Coordination, Not Waste Collection
Optus Glean is not a waste collection company. We do not operate waste trucks, and we do not hold a waste collection permit. What we do is coordinate your entire waste management operation as part of our facilities management services. This distinction matters because it means we work in your interest, not in the interest of a waste collector trying to maximise collection frequency and bin sizes.
Most Irish businesses pay too much for waste. They have bins that are too large, collected too frequently, with waste streams poorly segregated so that recyclable material ends up in expensive general waste collections. The waste collector has no incentive to fix this — larger bins and more frequent collections mean more revenue for them. Optus Glean has every incentive to fix it — efficient waste management reduces your overall facilities cost and makes our FM proposition more competitive.
When waste coordination is bundled with your cleaning contract, our cleaning teams manage the daily waste operation: emptying internal bins, segregating waste correctly at source, transporting waste to bin stores, and maintaining bin store cleanliness. The coordination layer sits on top: auditing your waste streams, right-sizing your bins, optimising collection frequency, managing the relationship with licensed collectors, and reporting on volumes, costs, and recycling rates.
Waste Audit and Bin Assessment
Every waste coordination engagement begins with a comprehensive waste audit. We physically inspect your waste streams over a one-week period to understand what you are producing, how it is currently being managed, and where the inefficiencies lie.
The audit covers:
- Waste volume measurement — We weigh or estimate the volume of each waste stream (general, recyclable, food, clinical, confidential) over the audit period to establish your baseline.
- Bin assessment — Are your bins the right size? A 1,100-litre general waste bin collected weekly costs significantly more than two 660-litre bins collected fortnightly if the volumes support it. Many businesses are paying for bin capacity they do not need.
- Segregation review — We inspect what is going into each bin. It is common to find recyclable cardboard, plastics, and paper in general waste bins, costing the business €150–€250 per tonne more than if those materials were correctly segregated into recycling.
- Collection frequency analysis — Are bins being collected when they are full, or when a schedule says they should be? Aligning collection frequency with actual fill rates is one of the simplest ways to reduce waste costs.
- Compliance check — We verify that your waste collector holds a valid waste collection permit, that waste transfer documentation is in order, and that your waste operation complies with the Waste Management Act 1996 and EPA requirements.
After the audit, we deliver a detailed report with specific, costed recommendations. Most clients see savings of 15–30% on their annual waste costs by implementing our recommendations. The audit is provided free of charge for clients who bundle waste coordination with a cleaning contract.
Waste Segregation Setup
Correct waste segregation is the single biggest driver of cost reduction in commercial waste management. Recyclable materials processed through recycling streams cost significantly less than general waste sent to landfill or incineration. Food waste processed through organic waste streams is cheaper than general waste and is now mandatory for commercial premises producing over 50kg of food waste per week under the European Communities (Waste Directive) Regulations.
Optus Glean sets up and manages a complete segregation system for your premises:
- General waste (black bin) — Non-recyclable, non-hazardous waste. The most expensive stream per tonne. Our goal is to minimise what goes in here.
- Recycling (green/blue bin) — Paper, cardboard, plastics, cans, glass. Clean, dry recyclables only. Contaminated recycling is rejected by processors and ends up in general waste at general waste cost.
- Food waste (brown bin) — Mandatory for premises producing 50kg+ per week. Processed through composting or anaerobic digestion. Cheaper than general waste and diverts organic material from landfill.
- Clinical waste (yellow/orange/purple bins) — For healthcare clients. Sharps, clinical waste, pharmaceutical waste. Collected by licensed clinical waste operators. Requires specific documentation and handling protocols.
- Confidential waste (locked bin) — Documents containing personal data, financial records, and commercially sensitive material. Shredded and recycled by specialist operators. Required under GDPR for businesses handling personal data.
We provide colour-coded internal bins, clear signage (with pictorial guides for multilingual workplaces), and staff training on correct segregation. Our cleaning teams reinforce correct segregation daily by checking internal bins before they are emptied into external containers.
Bin Store Cleaning and Management
Bin stores are one of the most neglected areas in commercial premises. They attract vermin, produce odours, and create health and safety hazards if not properly maintained. For food businesses, an unclean bin store is a red flag for Environmental Health Officers. For apartment blocks and residential developments, it is one of the most common sources of resident complaints.
Optus Glean includes bin store management as part of our waste coordination service. This covers:
- Regular pressure washing of bin store floors, walls, and doors
- Bin cleaning (internal and external) on a scheduled basis
- Deodorising and disinfecting after each cleaning cycle
- Pest control liaison — we flag pest issues and coordinate treatment with pest control operators
- Ensuring bins are correctly positioned and accessible for collection
- Maintaining clear access paths and fire escape routes around bin stores
Compliance: Waste Management Act 1996 and EPA Requirements
Irish waste legislation places specific obligations on businesses. The Waste Management Act 1996 (as amended), the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, and the European Communities (Waste Directive) Regulations 2011 set out the legal framework. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) enforces compliance and publishes guidance on commercial waste management best practice.
Key compliance requirements that Optus Glean manages on your behalf:
- Waste collection permit verification — Your waste collector must hold a valid waste collection permit issued by the National Waste Collection Permit Office (NWCPO). We verify this annually and maintain records.
- Waste transfer documentation — Every waste transfer must be documented. We maintain waste transfer notes and ensure a paper trail from your premises to the licensed treatment or disposal facility.
- Food waste obligations — Commercial premises producing over 50kg of food waste per week must have a separate food waste collection. We assess whether this threshold applies to your business and arrange appropriate collection if required.
- Reporting — We track your waste volumes, recycling rates, and costs on a monthly basis. Quarterly reports summarise trends, identify opportunities for further waste reduction, and document your compliance status.
Clinical Waste for Healthcare Clients
Healthcare facilities generate waste streams that require specialist handling under the EPA's Health Care Risk Waste Management guidelines. Clinical waste includes sharps (needles, scalpels, broken glass), infectious waste (swabs, dressings, PPE contaminated with blood or body fluids), pharmaceutical waste (expired or unused medications), and cytotoxic waste (from cancer treatment drugs).
Optus Glean coordinates clinical waste management for GP surgeries, dental practices, nursing homes, veterinary practices, and other healthcare facilities. This includes providing correct colour-coded waste containers (yellow for clinical, orange for anatomical, purple for cytotoxic, yellow with black stripe for offensive waste), arranging collection by licensed clinical waste operators, maintaining waste consignment notes, and ensuring your clinical waste documentation is HIQA audit-ready.
For healthcare clients who also use our healthcare cleaning services, clinical waste management is integrated into the daily cleaning operation. Our cleaning teams are trained in clinical waste handling and ensure correct segregation at the point of generation.
Construction Waste Coordination
Construction and demolition (C&D) waste is the largest waste stream in Ireland by volume. For construction clients who use our post-construction cleaning services, we also coordinate construction waste management. This includes skip management (ordering, placement, collection, and cost tracking), C&D waste segregation (concrete, timber, metals, plasterboard, mixed waste), and compliance with the Construction and Demolition Waste Management plan requirements for projects over certain thresholds.
Proper segregation of C&D waste reduces costs significantly. Mixed C&D waste sent to landfill costs €150–€250 per tonne. Segregated concrete and timber can be recycled at €20–€50 per tonne. Metal waste often has a positive value. We ensure your site is set up for maximum segregation and minimum cost.
The Complete FM Solution
Waste management coordination is most powerful when bundled with your cleaning contract. When Optus Glean handles both cleaning and waste, the daily operation runs seamlessly. Our cleaning teams empty internal bins, sort waste at source, transport it to bin stores, and maintain bin store cleanliness — all as part of the regular cleaning shift. The coordination layer ensures your bins are the right size, your collections are the right frequency, your waste is properly segregated, and your costs are optimised. One provider. One contract. One invoice. Complete facilities management.
Frequently Asked Questions About Waste Management
What is included in waste management coordination?
Waste management coordination includes waste audits, bin assessment and right-sizing, segregation setup, bin store cleaning, liaison with licensed waste collectors, compliance documentation, volume and cost tracking, recycling rate reporting, and staff training. We manage your entire waste operation but do not collect waste ourselves.
Do you collect waste?
No. Optus Glean coordinates waste management but does not operate waste collection vehicles. We audit your waste streams, set up segregation, manage bin stores, liaise with licensed collectors on your behalf, and ensure compliance. We work with all major Irish waste collectors to get you the best service at the best price.
How do you ensure regulatory compliance?
We ensure compliance with the Waste Management Act 1996, EPA requirements, and relevant EU directives. This includes verifying your collector's waste collection permit, maintaining waste transfer documentation, ensuring correct segregation, tracking volumes for reporting, and conducting regular audits. For healthcare clients, we also manage clinical waste documentation for HIQA compliance.
Can you handle clinical waste for healthcare facilities?
Yes. We coordinate clinical waste management for GP surgeries, dental practices, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities. This includes correct colour-coded containers, licensed clinical waste collection, waste consignment notes, and HIQA-ready documentation. Our healthcare cleaning teams are trained in clinical waste handling and segregation.
How much does waste management coordination cost?
Waste coordination bundled with cleaning contracts is included at no additional management fee. Standalone coordination costs €150–€500 per month depending on site complexity. The real value is in cost savings: most clients save 15–30% on annual waste costs after our audit and restructuring through right-sized bins, optimised collection frequency, and improved recycling rates.
How Optus Glean handles staff shortages
Every Optus Glean contract is staffed on a redundancy model rather than a single-person model. A named primary cleaner is assigned to the site at contract start. A named relief is assigned alongside them. Both are PAYE-employed by Optus Glean, both are Garda-vetted, both are inducted on the site's specific layout, access protocols, and colour-coded equipment system, and both are trained to the same documented HIQA-aligned IPC standard. Substitution is built into the contract from the first day, not arranged on the day cover is needed.
Sick day cover. When the primary cleaner is unable to work, the named relief is deployed. The site site contact is notified by 06:30 on the morning of the absence by SMS or email, with the name of the relief who is attending. The relief follows the same task list, uses the same equipment, and finishes within the same window. The standard of clean is unchanged because the relief was prepared for this scenario before the absence happened.
Annual leave cover. Annual leave is rostered weeks in advance and the relief is scheduled to cover the full leave period. The site is informed at the start of the leave period — not on the morning leave begins. This is the same model used in clinical rota management: known absences are pre-staffed, not improvised.
Long-term cover. If the primary cleaner is absent for more than two weeks (extended illness, parental leave, bereavement leave), cover is drawn from the wider trained bench rather than relying on the single named relief. The site is kept informed of the cover plan, the named individuals involved, and the expected duration. Continuity of standard is maintained because every operative on the bench is trained to the same documented standard.
Permanent reassignment. If the primary cleaner moves to a new permanent role within Optus Glean — promotion, relocation, retirement — the relief is promoted to primary on a planned timetable, a new relief is trained on the site, and both are introduced to the site before the handover takes effect. There is no day on which the site discovers, after the fact, that their cleaner has changed.
Substitution is Optus Glean's operational problem, not the site's risk to absorb. The buyer pays a fixed monthly fee for a defined scope to be delivered, every day it is meant to be delivered. The mechanism by which we deliver it — primary, relief, bench, retraining — is our cost to manage and our risk to carry.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-06
