Shannon Recycling Centre: Opening Hours, Address & Charges
Shannon Recycling Centre is the Clare County Council recycling facility at Smithstown, Shannon, V14 YC99. Use this guide before you load the car so you know the opening hours, vehicle charges, free household items, paint rules, green-waste limits and what not to bring.
Always check Clare County Council before travelling, especially around bank holidays, bad weather or service changes.
Quick answer for Shannon residents
Address: Shannon Recycling Centre, Smithstown, Shannon, Co. Clare, V14 YC99. Phone: 061 364483. It opens Tuesday to Friday from 10:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday from 9:00am to 3:00pm. It is closed Monday and Sunday.
Basic recyclable charges: €6 minimum/car, €10 car plus small trailer, €14 light van, and €30 for all other vehicles or vehicle/trailer combinations. Charges are listed as inclusive of VAT at 13.5%.
Before you drive there
Sort items at home first. Shannon Recycling Centre accepts listed recyclable items from domestic householders only. It is not a place to dump random household rubbish, commercial waste or anything not listed by Clare County Council.
Children must be strictly supervised at recycling centres; if that is not possible, Clare County Council says children must remain in the vehicle.
Shannon Recycling Centre Opening Hours 2026
The normal official hours are simple: open Tuesday to Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday. The important part is not to arrive close to closing time with an unsorted load.
| Day | Opening hours | Best visitor advice |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed | Do not travel. Use this day to sort items at home. |
| Tuesday | 10:00am – 5:00pm | Good day if you want to avoid Saturday traffic. |
| Wednesday | 10:00am – 5:00pm | Bring clean recyclables sorted by material. |
| Thursday | 10:00am – 5:00pm | Useful for midweek drop-off before a weekend clear-out. |
| Friday | 10:00am – 5:00pm | Arrive with enough time before closing. |
| Saturday | 9:00am – 3:00pm | Can be busier. Sort everything before leaving home. |
| Sunday | Closed | Do not leave items at gates or bring banks. |
Bank holiday caution: published weekly hours may change for public holidays, severe weather, site works or local notices. Check the official Clare County Council page or call 061 364483 before making a special journey.
Shannon Recycling Centre Address, Eircode and Contact Number
Shannon Recycling Centre, Smithstown, Shannon, Co. Clare, V14 YC99 is the address to use for maps and directions. The official contact number is 061 364483.
For Shannon town
Use the Smithstown location and avoid arriving late on Saturday, when the shorter closing time gives less room for sorting mistakes.
For nearby villages
If you are coming from Newmarket-on-Fergus, Sixmilebridge, Bunratty or Cratloe, check hours before loading the car.
For Clare visitors
If Shannon does not accept your item, Clare also lists other recycling centres and transfer stations through the council waste section.
Shannon Recycling Centre Charges: Car, Trailer, Light Van and Larger Vehicles
Charges depend mainly on the vehicle type and whether you bring a small trailer. Clare County Council lists the following charges for recyclables, with a €6 minimum charge.
| Vehicle / load type | Charge | Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Car, car-based van, 4 wheel drive or equivalent | €6 | This is the common household car visit charge and also the minimum charge. |
| Car, car-based van or 4WD with small trailer | €10 | Applies to the small trailer size described by the council: max 1.2 cu.m / 42 cu.ft. |
| Light van | €14 | Useful to check before travelling, especially if the van looks commercial. |
| All other vehicles and vehicle/trailer combinations | €30 | For larger vehicle types and bigger combinations. Call first if unsure. |
| Minimum charge | €6 | The minimum applies even if your recyclable load is small. |
Small trailer definition: Clare County Council defines a small trailer as less than 1.8m / 6ft long and less than 0.6m / 2ft high. If your trailer is larger, do not assume the €10 charge applies.
VAT note: The listed recyclable charges are stated as inclusive of VAT at 13.5%. Keep extra cash/card ready in case your load is assessed differently at the gate.
Plan Your Shannon Recycling Centre Visit in 30 Seconds
Most bad visits happen because people arrive with the wrong item, wrong vehicle expectation, loose green waste or paint that is not packed safely. Use this helper before loading the boot.
What are you bringing?
Likely charge: €6 minimum for a normal car load of listed recyclables.
Before you go: sort glass, cans, plastic bottles, paper, cardboard, metal, timber and oils separately where possible.
What You Can Bring to Shannon Recycling Centre
Shannon Recycling Centre accepts a defined list of recyclable household items. This is where you should stop yourself from guessing. If your item is not on the list, check Clare County Council, MyWaste or call first.
| Item type | Accepted at Shannon? | How to prepare it |
|---|---|---|
| Glass bottles and jars | Accepted | Empty and separate by the site’s instructions. |
| Aluminium cans | Accepted | Empty cans before bringing them. |
| Steel / tin cans | Accepted | Clean enough to avoid mess and odour. |
| Plastic bottles | Accepted | Empty bottles. Do not use this as a mixed rubbish trip. |
| Newspaper and magazines | Accepted | Keep dry if possible. |
| Cardboard | Accepted | Flatten boxes before leaving home. |
| Tetrapak | Accepted | Empty cartons and keep separate from general rubbish. |
| Waste oil and oil filters | Accepted | Keep sealed and avoid spills in the car. |
| Metal | Accepted | Ask staff where to place larger pieces. |
| Timber | Accepted | Bring manageable pieces only and ask if unsure. |
Do not treat “recycling centre” as “anything goes.” Clare County Council says to bring only the items listed for the centre, and the items are accepted from domestic householders only.
Items You Can Bring Free of Charge as a Householder
Some household items are listed as free at Shannon Recycling Centre. These are high-intent items because many people search for “free electrical drop off Shannon”, “battery recycling Shannon” or “lightbulb recycling Clare.”
Free items listed for householders
- Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, such as fridges, cookers and computers.
- Fluorescent tubes.
- Waste batteries.
- Dry and clean textiles.
Important textile rule
Textiles must be dry and clean. Pillows and duvets are not accepted in the textile list. Do not bring wet, mouldy or contaminated textiles and expect them to be accepted.
Battery safety: never throw batteries, vapes or electrical items into ordinary household rubbish or a mixed recycling bin. Bring them to a proper drop-off route and keep batteries separate and safe during transport.
Paint Tins and Green Waste Rules at Shannon Recycling Centre
These two categories cause avoidable problems because people often bring them the wrong way. Clare County Council gives specific rules for both green waste and paint.
| Item | Rule | What to do before leaving home |
|---|---|---|
| Small clean green waste | Small quantities accepted, such as fresh grass cuttings and fresh hedge clippings. | Put it in small containers. Loose green waste cannot be accommodated. |
| Paint tins and liquid paint | Solvent-based and mixture of paints accepted, but no sludges. Maximum 10 paint tins per vehicle. | Pack tins upright so they do not spill during transport. |
| Large garden clear-outs | Not the same as small clean green waste. | Call first or use a facility that accepts the volume and material type. |
| Leaking paint or sludge | Not safe to assume accepted. | Call before travelling and do not spill material at the site. |
Strict paint check: “Maximum 10 tins per vehicle” is not a suggestion. If you have more, do not split them into a messy load and hope. Call first and ask the correct disposal route.
What Not to Bring Without Checking First
The official page says to bring only the listed items. That is the key rule. If your item is not listed, call first or check MyWaste so you do not waste a trip.
Do not assume general rubbish is accepted
Black bags, mixed domestic rubbish and random clear-out waste should not be assumed accepted at Shannon Recycling Centre.
Commercial waste needs a proper route
The Shannon list is for domestic householders. Businesses should check a licensed commercial waste route instead of arriving with trade waste.
Hazardous items need care
Chemicals, oils, batteries, electricals, paints and sharp items should be handled according to official guidance, not mixed into ordinary loads.
If in doubt, call 061 364483 before loading the car. It is faster to ask first than to unload, reload and drive home with rejected material.
Senior-Friendly Checklist Before Visiting Shannon Recycling Centre
This checklist is for older residents, carers, families and anyone doing a house clear-out. The aim is to make the visit quick, safe and not stressful.
Check the opening day first
Monday and Sunday are closed. Saturday closes earlier at 3:00pm.
Sort before loading
Keep glass, cans, plastic bottles, paper, cardboard, WEEE, batteries, textiles, paint and green waste separate.
Pack paint upright
Maximum 10 tins per vehicle, and do not bring paint sludges.
Keep children safe
Children must be supervised. If supervision is not possible, keep children in the vehicle.
Bring payment
Expect a charge for recyclable visits depending on vehicle type, even if some household items are free.
If Shannon Recycling Centre Cannot Take Your Item
If your item is not listed for Shannon, do not dump it or leave it beside a bring bank. Use the correct Clare County Council, MyWaste, ERP or retailer take-back route.
| Problem item | Better next step | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Large bulky waste | Check Clare transfer stations or licensed waste collectors. | Shannon’s list is a recycling-centre list, not a full mixed-waste dump list. |
| Commercial load | Use a permitted commercial waste collector. | Domestic householder rules do not mean trade waste is accepted. |
| Unknown electrical item | Check MyWaste or ERP routes. | Many plug/battery items have special recycling routes. |
| Hazardous chemical | Contact council or specialist disposal route. | Unsafe items can create fire, spill or health risks. |
Shannon Recycling Centre Map and Helpful Recycling Video
The map is for directions to Smithstown, Shannon, V14 YC99. It does not replace official opening-hour checks, and it does not prove your item will be accepted.
Map warning: do not leave waste outside gates, bring banks or nearby industrial areas if the site is closed. Illegal dumping can create enforcement issues and extra clean-up costs.
Helpful video: recycle small electricals, batteries and lighting correctly
Shannon Recycling Centre is listed as a free electrical/batteries drop-off and lightbulb drop-off location on MyWaste. This WEEE/ERP-style video is useful for the exact user intent because it explains why plugs, batteries and lightbulbs need proper recycling routes.
Common Shannon Recycling Centre Questions Answered Properly
People searching for Shannon Recycling Centre usually need a practical answer, not a keyword list. This guide answers the real questions: opening hours today, Saturday closing time, address and Eircode, car charge, trailer charge, what is free, whether paint is accepted, whether green waste is accepted, and what to do before visiting.
If you searched for opening hours
Check the hours table and remember Monday/Sunday closed, Tuesday-Friday 10–5, Saturday 9–3.
If you searched for charges
Use the vehicle charge table. A normal car visit is listed at €6 and a light van at €14.
If you searched for accepted items
Use the accepted-items table and call first if your item is not listed.
FAQ: Shannon Recycling Centre Opening Hours, Address and Charges
Where is Shannon Recycling Centre?
Shannon Recycling Centre is at Smithstown, Shannon, Co. Clare, V14 YC99.
What is the Shannon Recycling Centre phone number?
The official phone number listed for Shannon Recycling Centre is 061 364483.
What are Shannon Recycling Centre opening hours?
It is open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday from 9:00am to 3:00pm. It is closed Monday and Sunday.
Is Shannon Recycling Centre open on Saturday?
Yes, the listed Saturday hours are 9:00am to 3:00pm. Arrive early with sorted items because Saturday is shorter than weekday opening.
How much does it cost to use Shannon Recycling Centre?
Listed recyclable charges are €6 for a car or equivalent, €10 for a car or equivalent with a small trailer, €14 for a light van, and €30 for all other vehicles or vehicle/trailer combinations. A €6 minimum charge applies.
What items are free for householders?
Free household items listed include WEEE such as fridges, cookers and computers, fluorescent tubes, waste batteries and dry clean textiles. Pillows and duvets are not accepted in the textile list.
Can I bring paint tins to Shannon Recycling Centre?
Yes, paint tins and liquid paint are listed, including solvent based and mixture of paints, but no sludges. A maximum of 10 paint tins per vehicle is listed and tins must be packed upright.
Can I bring green waste?
Small quantities of clean green waste, such as fresh grass cuttings and fresh hedge clippings, are listed. Green waste must be presented in small containers; loose material cannot be accommodated.
Can I bring general rubbish or commercial waste?
Do not assume so. The official page says to bring only listed items and notes items are accepted from domestic householders only. Call first if your load is not simple household recycling.
Should children get out of the car at the recycling centre?
Children accompanying adults must be strictly supervised at all times. If that is not possible, they must remain in the vehicle.