Hazardous waste collection day for Meath households

Households across Meath will have the opportunity to safely dispose of hazardous waste at a special recycling event in Kells on Saturday.

Household and garden chemicals, paints, solvents, motor and personal care products are among the items that will be accepted at Kells Recycling Centre in the Lloyd Business Park on the Cavan Road in Kells (A82 VK23) on Saturday 3rd October from 8am to 12pm.

The Regional Waste Management Planning Offices and Meath County Council have teaming up to host the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day and Meath residents are urged to register for the event.

This initiative, funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, lets people safely bid goodbye to those lingering products tucked away under the sink or gathering dust in the shed such as leftover paint tins, harsh cleaning chemicals, bleach, garden herbicides, and forgotten aerosol cans.

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.

The collection day will accept household items that contain potentially harmful components. Items accepted will include household chemicals such as disinfectants, detergents, bleach, oven cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, and other potent cleaning agents as well as personal care products such as nail polish, nail polish remover, aerosols, and other chemical-based cosmetic products.

Garden chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides, and other chemical treatments used in lawn and garden care will be accepted along with paints and paint related products such as paintbrushes and rollers, solvents, varnishes, thinners, strippers, inks, glues, resins, and other solvent-based products, used motor oil, petrol, diesel, antifreeze, surface polish, and other automotive fluids.

The collection is for household hazardous waste only, commercial/farm waste cannot be accepted. Medicines, medical waste, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and gas canisters will not be accepted. There's a 10 can/tub limit per customer for leftover paint and a 25 litre per customer limit for motor oil.

Entry will only be permitted to those who have registered online and materials cannot be left outside of the opening hours from 8am to 12pm on Saturday.

Opening hours are dependent on capacity limits to maintain safety and operational efficiency.

Commenting on the initiative, Denise Clynch, Environmental Awareness Officer from Meath County Council said: “We’re proud to partner with the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices to offer this safe, controlled collection day.

Please remember only household hazardous waste is accepted, and it is important to note that hazardous products are not placed in the general waste bin. We encourage everyone from Meath to make use of this collection day to dispose their household hazardous waste safely.”

Only registered attendees will be granted entry. For a complete list of accepted materials and to book your spot, visit www.mywaste.ie.