
If you have paint cans that you need to dispose of in Galway, there are a few options available to you. Galway County Council accepts household hazardous waste, which includes items such as paints, aerosols, pesticides, and medicines. However, waste paints are currently not accepted at the Galway City Council Recycling Centre, and it is advised to dispose of them at a Hazardous Waste Disposal Event that takes place annually in September or by contacting an authorized private waste company. One way to dispose of paint cans is to harden the paint by buying a paint hardener or adding sawdust, sand, or soil, leaving the lid off until it dries, and then throwing it into the general waste stream. Additionally, consider donating reusable paint to a Civic Amenity site or Recycling Centre, although criteria and charges may vary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Disposal of paint cans in Galway | Galway City Council Recycling Centre in the Liosbán Industrial Estate |
| Accepted items | Bulky household waste, hard plastic, plastic packaging, metal, paper, cardboard, household hazardous waste (e.g., paints, aerosols, pesticides, medicines), glass, textiles, timber, WEEE, etc. |
| Items not accepted | General mixed waste or refuse bags of any kind, non-recyclable and non-compostable waste, paint cans, batteries |
| Charges | Free for residential customers of Galway City; charges may apply for paint disposal at Civic Amenity sites |
| Operating hours | Monday-Thursday: 1pm-3:30pm; Friday: 10am-1pm; Saturday: 8:15am-12:30pm |
| Alternative options | Harden paint and dispose of the can in the general waste stream; donate reusable paint to Civic Amenity sites or the Paint Reuse Network Ireland |
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What You'll Learn

Galway City Council Recycling Centre
The Galway City Council Recycling Centre is located in the Liosbán Industrial Estate and is open to residential customers of Galway City only. The centre is open Monday to Thursday from 1 pm to 3:30 pm, Friday from 10 am to 1 pm, and Saturday from 8:15 am to 12:30 pm.
The centre accepts a wide range of materials for disposal, including bulky household waste, hard plastic, plastic packaging, metal, paper, cardboard, glass, textiles, timber, and more. However, it's important to note that general waste or refuse bags of any kind will not be accepted.
Regarding paint disposal, the centre currently does not accept waste paints or paint cans. The council advises residents to only purchase the amount of paint they need and to use up all the paint. Paint containers should not be placed in any household bins. Instead, residents are encouraged to harden any leftover paint before disposing of the can in the general waste stream. This can be done by buying a paint hardener or adding sawdust, sand, or soil to the tin and leaving the lid off until the paint dries.
For hazardous waste items, such as white spirits, weed killers, glue, aerosols, chemicals, and anti-freeze, the centre provides a mobile collection facility. This service will be advertised locally and on the Galway City Council website. Ink toner cartridges should be returned to the supplier, while tyres should be handled by an authorised private waste company.
Additionally, the centre does not accept batteries due to a fire in the Galway City Council Civic Amenity Centre, Lisbaun Industrial Estate. However, under European Union (Batteries and Accumulators) Regulations 2014, retailers are required to take back waste batteries free of charge.
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Civic Amenity sites
The Galway County Council operates Civic Amenity sites in Tuam, Clifden, and Ballinasloe for householders within the functional area of the council. The council has extended the range of materials accepted at these facilities to include bulky household waste, hard plastic, plastic packaging, metal, paper, cardboard, household hazardous waste (e.g., paints, aerosols, pesticides, medicines), glass, textiles, timber, WEEE, and more.
The Galway City Council Recycling Centre, located in the Liosbán Industrial Estate, provides a facility for residential customers of Galway City to dispose of unwanted household or electrical items free of charge. However, please note that waste paints, including paint cans, are currently not accepted at this facility.
If you have a very small amount of paint in the can, you need to harden it before disposing of the can in the general waste stream. You can do this by buying a paint hardener or adding sawdust, sand, or soil to the tin and leaving the lid off until the paint dries. Solvent-based paint, paint thinner, and white spirit should be disposed of as hazardous waste at a Civic Amenity site.
Paint Reuse Network Ireland works with 27 Civic Amenity sites around Ireland where you can donate paint for reuse. Each site has its own criteria for paint donations, including possible charges. For example, Donegal Civic Amenity Sites apply a charge of €1 per 5 litres/cans. Please check with your local civic amenity site for more information.
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Harden paint before disposal
In Galway, the City Council has extended the range of materials accepted at Civic Amenity sites in Tuam, Clifden, and Ballinasloe. This includes household hazardous waste such as paints, which must be in their original containers and fully labelled. However, it is unclear whether paint cans with dried paint are accepted.
Before disposing of paint cans, it is important to harden any leftover paint. One way to do this is to mix the paint with a hardener before disposal. This can be done by purchasing waste paint hardener, a powder that is mixed into the paint. After a few hours, the paint will harden, and you can throw the can away. Commercial paint hardening products are also available and can be inexpensive. Alternatively, you can use absorbent materials such as kitty litter, sawdust, or sand to harden the paint. The more absorbent the product, the faster the paint will dry. You can also try mixing the absorbent material into the paint a little at a time, mixing it in every 10 minutes until the paint hardens. Once the paint is solidified, the can can be closed and disposed of.
If you have water-based paint remaining, you can donate it to a charity such as Frade or Community RePaint, which will ensure it is responsibly utilised. You can also try to reuse the paint for other projects, such as painting vases or plant pots. If you are unable to find a paint recycling program, you can pour the paint into a plastic container filled with absorbent material or paper scraps, let it dry, and then throw it away with the trash. Remember, never pour paint down a drain or into the ground, as it can damage pipes and harm the water supply and soil.
Once the paint has hardened, you can dispose of the cans. If they are clean, you can recycle them with other metals. However, if there is more than an inch of dried paint left in the can, you may need to throw the entire can in the trash. Always check with your local waste management guidelines to ensure proper disposal.
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Hazardous waste disposal
Paint Cans
Paint cans are a common household item that requires careful disposal. The council advises that waste paint, including paint cans, is not accepted at their facilities. Galway City Council recommends that residents only purchase the amount of paint they need and use it all to avoid waste. The Hazardous Waste Disposal Event occurs annually in September, and this is an opportunity to dispose of paint safely. Alternatively, residents can contact an authorised private waste company for disposal.
Other Hazardous Waste
Galway City Council provides a list of other hazardous waste items and their specific disposal instructions:
- White spirits, weed killer, glue, aerosols, chemicals, and anti-freeze must be disposed of using the Hazardous mobile collection facility.
- Ink toner cartridges should be returned to the supplier.
- Tyres must be disposed of through a private waste company.
- Carpets, mats, and rugs can be collected by the GCC Bulky Goods Collection service or through a private waste company.
- Beds, mattresses, sofas, and furniture can be collected by the GCC or a private company.
- Paper, such as phonebooks, newspapers, wrapping paper, schoolbooks, and magazines, can be recycled in the household recycling bin.
- Cardboard boxes and rigid plastics can be placed in the refuse recycling bin, while Aeroboard/styrofoam goes in the landfill bin.
Preparing Paint for Disposal
If you have a small amount of paint left in the can, it must be hardened before disposal. Leave the can open until the paint is solid and dry, or add a paint hardener, sawdust, sand, or soil to speed up the process. Once hardened, the paint can be disposed of in the general waste stream.
Civic Amenity Sites
Galway County Council operates Civic Amenity sites in Tuam, Clifden, and Ballinasloe, which accept a wide range of materials, including household hazardous waste. These sites have specific criteria for paint donations, and some may charge a fee. It is recommended to check with the individual site before visiting.
Other Options
If you have paint that is still usable, consider donating it to the Paint Reuse Network Ireland, which works with 27 Civic Amenity sites across Ireland. Alternatively, you can try to use up leftover paint by mixing colours or giving it away to someone who can use it.
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Private waste companies
The following private waste companies can help you dispose of your paint cans in Galway:
CityBin
CityBin, located in Oranmore, accepts paint cans with wet paint for a small fee. You can also leave the paint to dry and dispose of the cans in the skips provided.
Galway City Council Recycling Centre
The Galway City Council Recycling Centre is located in the Liosbán Industrial Estate and is open Monday to Thursday from 1 pm to 3:30 pm and on Saturday from 8:15 am to 12:30 pm. This centre is for Galway City residential customers only and does not accept paint cans. However, they advise that you consult with an authorised private waste company for paint disposal.
Galway County Council
Galway County Council operates Civic Amenity sites in Tuam, Clifden, and Ballinasloe, where they accept household hazardous waste, including paints, aerosols, pesticides, and medicines. These sites may have their own criteria for paint disposal, including potential charges. It is recommended to check with the individual sites for more information.
Paint Reuse Network Ireland
Paint Reuse Network Ireland works with 27 Civic Amenity sites across Ireland, where you can donate paint for reuse. Some sites charge a fee for paint donation, while others may not accept paint donations at all. It is advised to check with your local civic amenity site before donating paint.
Hazardous Waste Disposal Event
Galway City Council also hosts an annual Hazardous Waste Disposal Event in September, where you can dispose of hazardous waste items such as white spirits, weed killers, glue, aerosols, and chemicals.
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Frequently asked questions
The Galway City Council Recycling Centre in the Liosbán Industrial Estate accepts unwanted household or electrical items for residential customers of Galway City to dispose of free of charge. However, they do not accept waste paint, including paint cans, at the facility.
The future availability of this service will be advertised locally and on the Galway City Council website.
The citybin site in Oranmore accepts paint cans for a couple of euros. The Galway County Council also operates Civic Amenity sites in Tuam, Clifden, and Ballinasloe, which accept household hazardous waste.
If there is only a small amount of paint left in the can, you can harden the paint by buying a paint hardener or adding sawdust, sand, or soil to the tin and leaving the lid off until the paint becomes solid and dry. Once the paint is hardened, you can throw it into the general waste stream.











































