Pay-by-weight
Household waste in Cork County is currently collected via a mix of public and private collection services. Cork County Council, through its introduction of a pay-by-weight charging system, now offers its household customers the opportunity to reduce their waste charges. First introduced in West Cork in 2003, pay-by-weight was introduced in North Cork in 2004, going county-wide by 2005.
The new system has proved very popular, and has given householders an incentive to reduce and recycle their waste. For further information on Cork County Council's waste collection services, how to apply for a collection service and how to make payments, click Waste Management Section
When presenting waste for collection to Cork County Council, customers should consult the Bye-Laws on Presentation of Waste for Collection.
Other Waste Collection Services
There are a number of private collectors operating throughout Cork County collecting household, commercial, industrial and other wastes. Many collectors provide both collections for disposal and separate kerbside collections for recycling.
Cork County Council regulates such collectors by means of the Waste Collection Permit Regulations, introduced in 2001. The Council encourages members of the public to check that their collectors have a permit, in order to avoid committing an offence. Members of the public may search the register of Waste collection permits
'Chemcar' Hazardous Household Waste Services
From a position in 2000 where all hazardous waste produced by householders in Cork was destined to be landfilled in Cork, the County and City Councils have made major strides in reversing this situation and redirecting this material to routes where it cannot harm the environment or where it is properly recycled.
In recent years, Cork citizens have handed in tens of tonnes of material to the "ChemcarTM". This material includes mercury-containing fluorescent tubes, solvent-containing paints and paint strippers, batteries, used oil and dangerous garden pesticides.
The "ChemcarTM" is available at publicised sites throughout the city and county during the year, and is manned by a trained and experienced chemical operator. Hazardous materials are accepted, packed and segregated for transfer to facilities that can properly treat these substances.
