Household Waste Disposal

Please note the following information is intended only for Galway City householders. If you live outside the Galway City boundary please contact the relevant Local Authority.

Household Waste disposal in Galway City

Please note the following information is intended only for Galway City householders. If you live outside the Galway City boundary please contact the relevant Local Authority.

How do I dispose of my household waste?

Under National Legislation all householders are required to segregate their waste into various waste streams and dispose of it via a permitted waste collector, permitted/licensed waste facility, bring bank or charity shops for reusable items. All waste producers, including householders, are required to reduce the amount of waste they produce and reuse items rather than disposal where possible. See helpful links below.

 

What time can waste be collected in Galway City?   

Commercial Waste Collection - there is no time restriction on the time when such waste may be collected in Galway City.

Household Waste Collection - 

In order to limit the impact of Household Waste Collection on residents, permitted operating hours are included in the permits issued to Household Waste Collection Operators.

  • If you live in an area of Galway City with a speed limit of 60 kilometres or lower household waste collections may take place between the hours of 6am and 10pm
  • If you live in an area of Galway City with a speed limit of 80 kilometres or higher household waste may be collected at any time.

Waste collection permit Condition 6.6.12 states that “The permit holder shall, minimise noise and nuisance”

If you have a complaint in relation to waste collection times in your area you should contact the waste collector in the first instance to make them aware of the problem.  They may not be aware that there is an issue with their waste collection activities.

What are the waste streams I am required to segregate my household waste into?

At a minimum you are required to segregate your household waste into the following waste streams:

  • (a) Glass bottles & jars - Bring Banks
  • (b) Recyclables- Recycling Bin
  • (c) Food and garden waste - Compost Bin
  • (d) Residual waste - Landfill Bin.

Waste collectors are required to provide information to their customers on what goes into which bin.

 

Where can I get bins to have my waste collected?

The permitted waste collectors listed below offer a kerbside household waste collection service in Galway City. Please contact the waste collectors directly for further information on the services provided.

 

I don't have space for bins how can I get bags for my household waste?

Household bag waste collection is only available in exceptional circumstances as set out in the criteria from the Department of Environment. You must be approved by Galway City Council for a wheelie bin exemption.

The criteria for designating a household, single and/or multi unit dwelling, as being only suitable for the collection of household kerbside waste in non-reusable receptacles, such as bags, are as follows:

  1. No space within the boundary of the property, front, rear or side to store 3 bins. However, as the waste must be stored somewhere, even when it is presented in bags, options should be explored as to whether smaller wheelie bins or other such reusable receptacles could be used in such circumstances. In this regard, if this criterion is used to designate a household, a review of that decision will be undertaken not later than 12 months after that decision, in order to evaluate whether smaller wheelie bins or other such reusable receptacles could be used.

  2. Physical features which make it difficult to move a bin to the front edge of the property or nearest boundary for presentation, e.g. steep gradient and or steps or that would present an unreasonable difficulty.

  3. The area (e.g. street) is too narrow for a refuse freighter to access properties and the nearest suitable presentation point is greater than 100m from the property.

  4. Where the Local Authority is notified of exceptional circumstances by a householder / resident and the Local Authority certifies same. Again, if this criterion is used to designate a household, where appropriate and keeping in mind the intention to make the collection of bags an exception, a review of that decision will be undertaken not later than 12 months after that decision, in order to evaluate whether the exceptional circumstances have changed to facilitate a move to wheelie bins.

  5. Unless it is not practicable to do so bags are to be presented in the vicinity of the entrance to the household from which the waste originated.

With effect from the 1st October 2016, bags, recycling and residual waste must only be purchased directly from the waste collector. You are advised to contact your waste collector directly.

For your information see below contact details for the waste collectors offering an authorised bag waste collection service in Galway City.

Where are the Galway City designated areas?

The Galway City "Bag Collection Area" is enclosed by the following itinerary:

Starting at Joyce Roundabout, along Bohermore, Prospect Hill, onto Bothar Brendan Ui hEithir, St. Mary Magdalen Terrace, Forster Street, Frenchville Lane, along Eyre Square to Victoria Place, Dock Road, along Dock Street to Long Walk, Lower Merchants Road, Spanish Parade, over Wolfe Tone Bridge, proceed along Raven Terrace, Upper Dominick Street, including Pump Lane and Burkes Lane, William Street West, Munster Avenue, Sea Road as far as the Jesuit Church, proceed to Henry Street, New Street West, Raleigh Row, Palmyra Avenue, Palmyra Park, St. Joseph's Avenue, St. Johns Terrace, St. Helens Street, New Road, Mill Street, Parkavara, Nun's Island, Lower Dominick Street, from O'Brien's Bridge proceed along the river bank to Steamers Quay, Headford Road, Walsh's Terrace, St. Bridget's Place, St. Bridget's Place Upper, St. Bridget's Terrace and finishing at prospect Hill.

The following streets are also included:

Salthill Road Upper, including Beach Avenue, to junction of San Antonia Terrace. Lenaboy Avenue and San Antonia Terrace.

Individual households in the above listed areas will only be considered for a bag waste collection service in exceptional circumstances, see criteria above, where it will not be possible to collect waste in reusable receptacles, such as wheelie bins, and only with prior approval from Galway City Council.

See also attached Wheelie Bin Waste Collection Exemption Form.

Email environment@galwaycity.ie to submit a request.

 

Can I use my own home composter?

Householders are allowed compost their own food and garden waste in a home composter. Great care should be taken of the food waste put in the compost bin.


No cooked food, meat, bread or dairy products should be placed in the home compost bin which differs from what can be placed in your waste collection compost bin. 

http://www.stopfoodwaste.ie/home-composting/

 

Where can I recycle the following waste streams?

  • (a) Glass and jars - Bottle banks located throughout the City.
  • (b) Old clothes - Clothes fit for reuse can be offered to charity shops or placed in clothes banks throughout the City. Clothes not fit for reuse may also be deposited at clothes banks located throughout the City.

Further information is available at http://www.galwaycity.ie/bring-banks

 

Where can I bring waste that does not go in my bins?

Large recyclable plastic/metal/timber items, used cooking and engine oil, waste electrical items and batteries are just some of the items that are accepted at the Galway City Council Recycling Centre at Liosban Industrial Estate. Further information is available at http://www.galwaycity.ie/recycling-centre

Barna Recycling, Carrowbrowne, Headford Road, Co. Galway - 091 771619, sales@BarnaRecycling.com or www.barnarecycling.com 

and

The City Bin Company, Oranmore, Co. Galway - 091 787800, home@citybin.com or www.citybin.com also offer a waste disposal service at their facilities.

Please contact them directly for further information on the services they provide.

 

How can I have large waste items collected from my home?

Galway City Council offers a bulky goods collection service. Further information is available at http://www.galwaycity.ie/bulky-goods-collection

If you use the services of a private waste collector ensure they hold a valid waste collection permit.

 

How do I dispose of electrical items and batteries?

Information on the disposal of waste electrical items and batteries is available at http://www.galwaycity.ie/weee

 

Can I burn my waste?

No. It is illegal to burn waste. Uncontrolled burning of waste can cause air pollution which may lead to serious health and safety issues including serious respiratory illness like Asthma.

Burning of waste is an offence under the Waste Management Act 1996 and/or the Air Pollution Act 1987. Offenders are liable to prosecution by Galway City Council under waste management and air pollution legislation with fines of up to €3,000.

 

Can I be penalised if I do not dispose of my waste correctly?

Yes. You are responsible for the correct disposal of your waste.

The dumping of waste, particularly food waste, can attract vermin which has health and safety consequences in addition to the risk of injury from the contents of the waste. Galway City Council may issues litter fines for minor breaches of the Little Pollution Act 1997, as amended. More serious waste management breaches are dealt with under the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended. This includes giving your waste to a non-permitted waste collector.

The presentation of unauthorised waste bags in a public area is an offence under the Litter Pollution Act 1997. The dumping of waste is an offence under the Waste Management Act 1996. Offenders are liable to prosecution by Galway City Council with fines of up to €3,000.

 

How do I know if a person offering a waste collection service is permitted to collect waste?

A list of all valid holders of a waste collection permit is available at http://www.nwcpo.ie/permitsearch.aspx

All permitted waste collectors are required to mark their vehicles with their waste collection permit details and carry a copy of their waste collection permit on the vehicle.

 

Where can I get more information on waste reduction and recycling?

Further information is available at the following recycling links:

https://www.repak.ie/for-consumers/what-can-i-recycle/

http://www.stopfoodwaste.ie/

http://www.stopfoodwaste.ie/home-composting/

http://www.weeeireland.ie/consumers/

http://www.curwmo.ie/

http://www.epa.ie/researchandeducation/education/educ/sustainableresourceuse/recycling-wasteasaresource/

 

What should I do if I see dumping or burning of waste?

You should contact Galway City Council on 091 536400 to report the matter. You are not required to give your contact details. Alternatively you may contact the EPA National Complaints Line on 1800 365 123  http://www.epa.ie/enforcement/report/nationalenvironmentalcomplaintsline/