Household Hazardous Waste Removal

Local authorities may arrange collection of household hazardous waste at designated sites.

What is hazardous waste?

Substances or objects that are discarded, intended or required to be discarded and that display some of the following properties: corrosive, explosive, irritant, flammable, toxic etc. may be termed Hazardous Waste. A container that contained such substances is also considered to be Hazardous Waste.

Examples of household hazardous Waste

Some common items displaying hazardous properties that may be found in the home/garage are:

  • Adhesives/glues/resins/sealants
  • Aerosols – deodorant cans, spray paints etc.
  • Batteries – lead acid, nickel-cadmium etc.
  • Bleach/Cleaning agents – metal cleaners, drain cleaners, oven cleaners etc.
  • Electrical and Electronic Equipment
  • Energy-saving light bulbs/Fluorescent tubes/Mercury thermometers
  • Freezers/fridges
  • Fungicides/herbicides/pesticides
  • Ink/printer cartridges/ribbons/toners
  • Waste medicines – expired or unwanted etc.
  • Engine oil/gear and lubricating oils/anti-freeze
  • Paints/paint thinners/varnishes/solvents
  • Poisons
  • Polishes
  • Photographic chemicals

Disposal of household hazardous waste

Many household wastes can be taken to Civic Amenity Sites at Portlaoise or Portarlington Recycling Centres.

For further information on household hazardous waste, please consult “A Householders' Guide to Hazardous Waste Prevention”.

Recycling WEEE and waste batteries 

Recycling WEEE and waste batteries is free. You can bring them to your local recycling centre or civic amenity site. You just drop them into the right box. The vEMC pays for the WEEE to be collected and recycled safely. 
Important note: The outlet does not have to take back waste batteries if they are damaged or leaking.  

Find the recycling centre nearest to you, where you can recycle your WEEE, batteries, and light bulbs. 

You can also bring your old WEEE to a shop or retail outlet when you are buying a new product they will take back old items.  Disposal is free of charge.

You can return waste batteries to any retailer but only if they are selling the same types of batteries. For example, a retailer of car batteries does not have to accept portable batteries if they don't sell them. You do not need to buy new batteries to return waste batteries at a retail outlet.   

You can just drop waste batteries into the red or blue boxes that are displayed in many supermarkets and other shops. You don’t need to buy new batteries when dropping off the old ones.  

The WEEE and waste batteries are collected from the recycling centres and shops and taken to be recycled. 

Disposable, single-use, vape and e-cigarette devices are EEE. They can also contain batteries. These should be recycled when they reach the end of their useful life and become waste (i.e. WEEE). Rechargeable vape and e-cigarette devices can also be recycled as WEEE but you must first remove the tank. Don't place the devices in the bin.

Check out the guidance for recycling of vape and e-cigarette WEEE.

Remember to 

  • Recycle your WEEE and waste batteries
  • Don’t throw them in the bin
  • WEEE and battery recycling is free

Legal obligations 

Any person or organisation that manufacturers, imports and/or sells EEE or batteries in the country has legal obligations to meet. Find out more about the legal obligations that apply to producers and retailers/distributors of EEE and batteries.  

Any person or organisation that manufacturers, imports and/or sells EEE or batteries in the country has legal obligations to meet. Find out more about the legal obligations that apply to producers and retailers/distributors of EEE and batteries.  

Further information

Note: This page is a guide only. It does not purport to provide, and should not be relied upon as, a legal interpretation of the Regulations. Laois County Council advises you to read the Regulations in full.