Managing Waste at Home

Limerick City and County Council is committed to promoting positive action on waste management. You can help by adopting a Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle approach in your home or business.

For information about managing your waste to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, visit mywaste.ie.

Putting Out Your Bins

Covid-19 - Putting Out Your Bins Notice

How to Manage your Waste if you are Tested Covid-19 Positve 

Covid-19 Managing Your Waste Notice

Managing Waste at Home

To download the latest Managing Waste at Home - Easy Being Green publication, click here.



Pay by Use

In July 2017 The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment announced that they would no longer allow flat rate bin charges to be applied.

Licenced waste collection companies use several options or combinations of charging methods such as standing charges, pay per-lift, pay per-kilogramme, pay by weight-bands, and weight allowance charges. Standing charges are still going to be allowed but the bin companies will also have to incorporate a charge that relates to the amount of waste a household produces.

If you live in a town with a population of over 500 your bin provider is obliged to give you a brown bin for food waste and other organic waste.

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Segregated Waste Collections

A segregated waste collection is provided by regulated private waste collection contractors.  A three bin waste collection service must be provided to householders in all areas with a population greater than 500 people.

  1. Brown bin for organic waste
  2. Dry recyclable bin
  3. Landfill bin/general waste bin  

In all other areas a minimum of a two bin collection service must be provided. 

  1. Dry recyclable bin 
  2. Landfill/general waste bin

To find out what to do with your recycling and what recycling goes where, click here.

For Polish, Chinese and Russian translations of the recycling list click here.

Always use a waste collector with a waste collection permit. Always keep a record of your waste collection service and receipts.

Some householders are entitled to assistance with the cost of their household refuse collection. For more information about the Refuse Collection Waiver Scheme click here.

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Household Waste Collectors

Operating In the administrative area of Limerick City and County Council

Please note that this is not a definitive list and is based on 2016 data. Further information is available at on the National Waste Collection Permit Office website. Click here.

You can also download a list of Waste Collectors. Click here.

For a list of the materials you can put in your household recycle bin visit Recycling List Ireland.

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Brown Bin: Why use it?

  • Your waste food will not go to landfill and is reprocessed into a useful product.
  • You are helping the environment.
  • To complying with EU, Irish legislation and local bye-laws.

Helpful Hint: Line your brown bin with newspaper and present your bin with the lid closed. Use your brown bin for food scraps and home compost raw organic materials! For more information visit 

For more information visit the BrownBin.ie.

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Home Composting

Home Composting from Limerick City and County Council on Vimeo.

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AnchorGrass clippings

Grass clippings should be presented in a separate waste container if provided by collectors or brought to a Limerick Recycling Centre, or composted at home. 

  • To Read our Home Composting Mini Guide click here.
  • To Read how to dispose of household green and garden waste correctly click here.

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Glass Bottles and Jars

Glass bottles and jars should be put in a separate waste container if provided by collectors, or brought to a local bring centre/bank. Find a list of Limerick bottle banks click here.
 
Do not put construction and demolition waste such as clay, stone, concrete and similar materials in the residual waste container. Bring it to a Limerick Recycling Centre instead.

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Burning Waste is Illegal

Burning waste in your home or business is illegal and has a significant negative impact on the local environment and may also affect your health.

  • To read our leaflet Burning Waste is Illegal click here.
  • To view a video on the burning of waste click here.

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Bulky Waste 

Bulky waste includes mattresses, beds, and attic or shed clear-outs.    

How to dispose of bulky waste:

  • ​Use a permitted waste collector who will come directly to your home to remove bulky waste items on an appointment basis.
  • Hire a skip from a permitted waste collector.
  • Bring directly to an authorised waste transfer station.
  • Bring certain items to a Limerick Recycling Centre.

When using permitted waste collectors:

  • Ensure that the waste collector has a permit for the type of waste they are collecting. Visit the National Waste Collection Permit Office website for a full list of waste collection service providers and what they are permitted to collect.
  • ​Ask to see your waste collectors waste collection permit.
  • Note the time and date of the collection and the licence number of the vehicle.
  • Always, always get a receipt. 

Please Note: It is a crime to hire an illegal (unpermitted) waste collector or skip operator, and to do so could lead to prosecution.

Limerick Man with a Van from Limerick City and County Council on Vimeo.

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Waste WEEE

Waste WEEE is anything powered by a battery or a plug. 

Do not put Waste WEEE or used batteries in the general waste bin. 

  • Take back Waste WEEE at point of sale when you are purchasing a new similar item.
  • Bring to a Limerick Recycling Centre free of charge.

Waste household batteries can be brought to:  

  • Schools who are participating in the European Recycling Platform school’s battery recycling collection.
  • Any retailer selling batteries.
  • A Limerick Recycling Centre.

Don't Waste a Day! from Limerick City and County Council on Vimeo.

For more about Waste WEEE, click here.

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Household Hazardous Waste

Try to avoid using household hazardous waste by using more environmentally friendly methods. When this is not possible, purchase the products in minimal sizes and use sparingly. 

  • To read about Greener Cleaning from the Southern Waste Region click here.
  • To read about gardening from the Southern Waste Region click here.

Do not dispose of any household hazardous waste in your wheelie bin, at landfill sites or down the drain. Keep all household hazardous waste in it's original containers. 

The following household hazardous waste is accepted at Limerick Recycling Centre.

  • Oils
  • Oil filters
  • Oil based thinners
  • Paints
  • Laquer
  • Varnish
  • Floursecent tubes
  • Aerosols

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Further Reading

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