Dublin Waste Collection & Dump Options

Whether you are looking to save some money on your rubbish removals, trying to find out what your waste collection Dublin options are, or are simply looking for the closest recycling centre in the Dublin area. Knowing your options is vitally important in making your life easier.

Where Can I Dispose of Waste in Dublin?

To know where you can dispose of your waste in Dublin, you must first determine what type of rubbish you are trying to dispose of.

The Dublin region offers various options to dispose of your waste, the main ones are:

1. Household Waste Collection (Bins)
2. Hazardous Waste Disposal
3. Bring Centres
4. Civic Amenity Sites/Recycling Centres
5. Bulk or Commercial Rubbish

Below, we delve in further detail as to which rubbish or waste should be collected at each point.

Household Waste Collection

For everyday household or domestic waste collection, the most common way to dispose of your rubbish is to contract a private waste company.

According to the Dublin City Council, there are several licensed waste collection companies you can choose from in the region.

See our “Bin Collection in Dublin Guide” for complete details on this option.

The types of charges waste collection Dublin companies offer the public are generally broken down into three main types:

• Dublin Waste Collection Payment Options
• Pay by Weight - This method charges a set value per kg of waste collected. Designed for homes that are efficient at managing their waste output, but can be pricey for full homes.
• Pay by Lift - Arrange a collection only when your bin is full. Great for very low-volume homes or holiday lets, but can get expensive if used regularly, as the lift price is higher.
• Standard Service - A flat fee for a regular fortnightly collection. The most common collection method, with an annual maximum collection weight limit.

It is important to consider which bins you need for your home, and what you expect the volume of each bin to be before agreeing to a contract. 

Household waste collection bins are typically separated into the following categories:

1. General Waste (Black/Grey Bin),
2. Recycling (Green/Blue Bin), and
3. Organic/Food Waste (Brown Bin).

You should always seek to compare refuse collection prices before creating an agreement with a bin service provider to ensure that your package is competitive.

Hazardous Waste Disposal

Certain items that do not fit into the standard household waste collection categories are considered hazardous materials or require special handling.

Because these items pose a danger to the environment or to public safety, they cannot be placed in your regular domestic bins. 

You will typically need to dispose of them at a dedicated Recycling Centre, Bring Centre, or through a retailer's take-back scheme.

Hazardous materials can include some of the following items:

Items like bulky furniture, electrical waste (WEEE - Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment), and hazardous waste must be taken to a Bring Centre or Recycling Centre (also known as a Civic Amenity Site).

Bring Centres

Bring Centres (also known as Bring Banks) are accessible locations typically dedicated to the collection of common recyclable materials in separate containers, such as:

• Cardboard and Paper
• Glass Bottles and Jars (sorted by colour)
• Cans and Aluminium
• Small WEEE (some locations)

Dublin City Council operates four main Bring Centres (previously listed as eight in the original document, which included centres outside the Dublin City Council area or small Bring Banks).

These main centres accept a wider range of materials than a typical roadside bank.

The table below lists the details about the main Dublin City Council Bring Centres. Note: Times and accepted materials are subject to change, so it's best to confirm with the council website.

The table below lists the materials that each Bring Centre accepts as a guide.

Green Waste Charges: All main Bring Centres that accept green waste charge the following for this disposal only:

• €2 per 80-litre bag
• €16 per 1m³ skip bag
• Commercial Green Waste is not accepted.

Further details of what these centres accept, along with their contact details, can be found in the Dublin City Council Bring Centre Guide.

Civic Amenity Sites / Recycling Centres

If you prefer not to commit to a household waste collection plan or need to dispose of bulky items, you can use a Civic Amenity Site (often called a Recycling Centre).

For some, who often travel or do not produce much waste, bringing your own rubbish to a centre may be more economical.

The main full Civic Amenity Sites in the Dublin region, run by the respective local authorities (Dublin City, Fingal, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, and South Dublin County Councils), include:

• Ringsend (Dublin City)
• North Strand (Dublin City) - *Note: North Strand is primarily a Bring Centre that accepts bulky items.*
• Ballyogan Recycling Park (Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown)
• Estuary Recycling Centre (Fingal)
• Coolmine Recycling Centre (Fingal)

These facilities accept a much wider range of materials, including furniture, large WEEE, rubble, and general waste, usually for a fee. None accept commercial waste.

Bulk or Commercial Rubbish

Any commercial waste collection in Dublin needs to be handled by one of the licensed private providers listed on the City of Dublin Webpage, as Civic Amenity Sites and Bring Centres do not accept it.

Can I Get a One-off Bin Collection?

While regular household waste collection is the best way to offload your refuse, sometimes you may need a single collection due to moving home or clearing out the house. Many household companies or specialist services can assist with this.

One of the first places you should check is the Dublin City Council website. Not only is this a great source of information on how to handle your waste, but they also list which companies are NWCPO licensed.

The council offers a Bulky Waste Collection Service for residents, charging €40 per collection (price subject to change), with a limit of 5 bulky items per collection (e.g., a mattress, a sofa, etc.). They can be contacted on 01 222 2222. This is a reliable option for responsible disposal.

Independent specialist waste collection Dublin services also operate throughout the city, offering customized quotes starting as low as €1.50 depending on the type and volume of items you wish to dispose of. 

A few examples of such companies include:

⚠️ Make sure that any service provider you use has an NWCPO (National Waste Collection Permit Organisation) licence to ensure legal and responsible waste disposal.