Waste Presentation

The Waste Management Act 1996 and Galway County Council’s Waste Management Byelaws 2019 require the proper segregation, storage, and presentation of household and commercial waste.    

How to separate and store waste: 

A three-bin service for the collection of recyclables, organic and landfill waste is available if you are on a serviced route.    Your Waste Collector is obliged to provide you with this three-bin system for separating and storing the waste from your household.      

• Recycling Bin (usually green) – for clean, dry, and loose plastic, paper, cardboard and tins; for example, all hard and soft plastics, aluminum containers, paper and cardboard.  
• Composting Bin (usually brown) - for food waste, garden waste, and any compostable packaging; for example, all food cuttings, peelings and leftovers, grass and plant clippings.  
• General Bin (usually black) - for the remaining items that cannot be recycled or composted; for example, dirty packaging, bagged/cold ashes, sanitary waste, nappies, non-compostable cups etc. 

You can learn more about the different types of waste and how to separate your waste correctly at https://mywaste.ie/dispose-waste/at-home/three-bin-system/  

If you are more than 100 metres from a serviced collection route or your property is unsuitable for bin storage you can apply to the Council for an exemption to use bags.   Galway County Council will process your request in consultation with your Authorised Waste Collector.  To apply, please fill in and return this form:  

How to present waste for collection:

A private residence or business must ensure that the temporary storage of waste pending collection must comply with the byelaws, for example, that bins are held within the curtilage of your property and only placed on the footpath or public place when due for collection.      

Your Waste Collector should give you details on how to separate your waste and what day to put out the different bins for collection.