Is your shed overflowing with leftover paint cans? Are old chemical sprays and containers lurking under your sink? Don't let these hazardous items pose a risk to your family or the environment any longer. You can safely dispose of them at a household hazardous waste collection day next week.
This day, organised by the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices and Galway City Council, will take place in Galway Racecourse, Ballybrit on Saturday, September 5 from 8am to 12pm.
This initiative, funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, lets you safely dispose of products tucked away under the sink or gathering dust in the shed. Think leftover paint tins, harsh cleaning chemicals, bleach, garden herbicides, and forgotten aerosol cans.
Why is this so important?
Throwing hazardous items like bleach, paints, or aerosol cans into your general waste bin or pouring them down the drain can have serious consequences. These substances can contaminate our soil and water sources, harming wildlife and potentially entering our drinking water supply. They can also pose risks to waste collection workers and cause dangerous chemical reactions or even fires in waste facilities. This collection day provides a safe, responsible, and environmentally sound alternative.
Next week's event will only accept household items. These include disinfectants, detergents, bleach, oven cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, and other potent cleaning agents. Personal care products such as nail polish, nail polish remover, aerosols, and other chemical-based cosmetic products can also be handed over.
Householders can also get rid of garden chemicals including pesticides, herbicides, and other chemical treatments used in lawn and garden care. Other items being accepted are leftover paint (limit 10 cans per customer ) and paint related products such as paintbrushes and rollers; varnishes, thinners, strippers, inks, glues, resins, and other solvent-based products; and used motor oil (25 litre limit per customer ), petrol, diesel, antifreeze, surface polish, and other automotive fluids.
Commercial or farm waste, medicines, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE items ), and gas canisters will not be accepted.
Those wishing to avail of the event must book online and pay a €10 entry fee. Opening hours are dependent on capacity limits to maintain safety and operational efficiency.
Visit https://www.mycoco.ie/galwaycity/hwd to book your spot and pay the €10 entry fee — only registered attendees will be granted entry.
For a complete list of accepted materials, visit https://www.mycoco.ie/galwaycity/hwd or www.mywaste.ie
