Check Portarlington Recycling Rules Before You Load the Car
Portarlington Civic Amenity Site on Lea Road is a Laois County Council recycling facility operated by AES Recycling. It accepts a broad range of separated household recycling, but it no longer accepts ordinary domestic refuse and it does not take commercial waste, mattresses or furniture.
Use this guide to check opening hours, last entry, the R32 T291 Eircode, current vehicle charges, tyre limits, timber restrictions, free WEEE routes and the items worth checking before you travel.
Portarlington Recycling Centre at a Glance
Portarlington Civic Amenity Site is at Lea Road, Portarlington, Co. Laois, R32 T291. The current Laois County Council timetable is Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am–3:30pm and Saturday from 8am–1:30pm.
Last entry is 15 minutes before closing: 3:15pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 1:15pm on Saturday.
General rubbish?
Do not bring ordinary domestic/general waste. Laois County Council states that domestic waste is no longer accepted at Portarlington.
Electrical goods?
Household WEEE is accepted through the approved free electrical-recycling route.
Mattress or sofa?
Do not load it for this site. Mattresses and furniture are specifically excluded.
The most important distinction: Portarlington is now primarily a recycling civic amenity facility. It is not a general household-waste disposal site, even though older references may describe broader waste functions.
Portarlington Recycling Centre Opening Hours
The site operates four days per week. Tuesday and Thursday are normal closed days, which makes the weekday pattern easy to misremember.
| Day | Opening hours | Last entry |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 8:00am–3:30pm | 3:15pm |
| Tuesday | Closed | — |
| Wednesday | 8:00am–3:30pm | 3:15pm |
| Thursday | Closed | — |
| Friday | 8:00am–3:30pm | 3:15pm |
| Saturday | 8:00am–1:30pm | 1:15pm |
| Sunday | Closed | — |
| Public / bank holidays | Closed | — |
Do not arrive at closing time. The council explicitly publishes a last-entry time 15 minutes before the gates close.
Portarlington Recycling Centre Address and Eircode
The official Laois County Council address is straightforward: Lea Road, Portarlington, Co. Laois, R32 T291.
Address for navigation
Portarlington Civic Amenity Site
Lea Road
Portarlington
Co. Laois
R32 T291
Useful contact numbers
Site / council listing: 057 8642845
AES Recycling: 045 580060
AES email: info@aesrecycling.ie
Portarlington boundary context: Portarlington town extends across the Laois–Offaly area, but this particular civic amenity facility is on the Laois side and is managed by Laois County Council.
Portarlington Recycling Centre Charges
Laois County Council’s live civic amenity page currently publishes two basic vehicle charges: €5 for a car and €10 for a small van.
AES Recycling, the contracted site operator, also publishes additional trailer and larger vehicle prices. Those extra operator categories are useful for planning a bigger household load, but check them before travelling because the council’s shorter public list does not currently reproduce every category.
| Vehicle / load | Published charge | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Car | €5 | Confirmed on current Laois County Council page. |
| Small van | €10 | Confirmed on current Laois County Council page. |
| Car + single-axle trailer | €15 | Currently listed by AES Recycling. |
| Car + double-axle trailer | €30 | Currently listed by AES Recycling. |
| Large van + trailer | €60 | Currently listed by AES Recycling; confirm before a large trip. |
| Household WEEE only | Free approved route | Laois Council confirms WEEE and battery recycling is free through the approved household route. |
Do not confuse Portarlington with Portlaoise charges. Laois County Council publishes a much broader waste-fee schedule for its Portlaoise/Kyletalesha facility. Those mattress, domestic-waste and other Portlaoise charges do not automatically apply at Portarlington.
What Can You Bring to Portarlington Recycling Centre?
The current council page lists a broad range of separated household recyclables. Sort the car before leaving home so each waste stream can be directed to the right bay.
Operator list adds more detail: AES currently also lists aerosols, car batteries, gas bottles, household batteries, metal, plasterboard, polystyrene, TVs/monitors and several other separated streams. For anything that appears on the operator list but not the council’s shorter list, call AES before making a special trip.
Tyres, Paint, Timber and Hazardous Household Waste
Car tyres
Tyres are accepted subject to conditions and a customer quota. Laois County Council currently specifies a maximum of 2 car tyres per customer.
Paint cans
Paint cans are accepted only from domestic customers. Do not treat the site as a business or trade paint-disposal facility.
Timber
Normal suitable timber is listed, but manufactured wood products such as plywood, pressed wood and chipboard are specifically excluded from the recyclable timber stream.
Hazardous household waste
The council lists selected household hazardous waste such as paint and adhesives. Do not assume every chemical, pesticide or hazardous container is accepted; call first for anything unusual.
Damaged or leaking batteries need extra care. Laois County Council notes that a retailer is not obliged to take back a waste battery if it is damaged or leaking. For damaged lithium or other hazardous batteries, seek specific safety guidance rather than dropping them into an ordinary battery box.
What Portarlington Recycling Centre Does Not Accept
The current council page is unusually clear about several common waste categories that should not be brought to Portarlington.
| Waste type | Current position | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/general waste | No longer accepted | Use an authorised household waste collector or another authorised facility that accepts residual waste. |
| Commercial waste | Not accepted | Use an authorised commercial waste contractor. |
| Mattresses | Not accepted | Use an authorised bulky-waste route or a facility that explicitly accepts mattresses. |
| Furniture | Not accepted | Use reuse, bulky-waste collection or another authorised disposal site. |
| Plywood / chipboard / pressed wood | Not accepted as recyclable timber | Confirm an alternative disposal route before travelling. |
| Business paint / trade hazardous waste | Not covered by domestic paint acceptance | Use an authorised commercial/hazardous waste operator. |
Do not arrive with black bags assuming you can pay a gate fee to dispose of them. The current council instruction explicitly says domestic waste is no longer accepted at Portarlington.
WEEE, Batteries and Lightbulbs at Portarlington
MyWaste classifies Portarlington as a free electrical/battery recycling drop-off and lightbulb drop-off. Laois County Council also confirms that Portarlington Civic Amenity Site accepts household batteries and WEEE through the approved scheme.
Large electricals
Household WEEE can include appliances such as fridges and other large electrical equipment where accepted by the site.
Small electricals
Small household electrical and electronic devices can use the WEEE stream rather than household black or recycling bins.
Batteries and lamps
Battery and lightbulb recycling routes are listed through MyWaste. Keep batteries separate from other recycling when travelling.
Retailer alternative: Laois County Council also confirms that registered electrical retailers must provide free like-for-like WEEE take-back when you buy a similar replacement product. Portable batteries can be returned to retailers selling that battery type without making a new purchase.
Laois County Council and AES Recycling Roles
Portarlington Civic Amenity Site is a council facility, but Laois County Council says it is operated under contract by AES Recycling.
AES Recycling is the current name used by the business formerly branded Bord na Móna Recycling. AES announced the branding change while stating that services and the 045 580060 contact number would continue.
Use Laois County Council for
Official civic amenity policy, the council-listed opening pattern, accepted-material restrictions and the council’s current public fee summary.
Use AES Recycling for
Operator-specific questions, larger vehicle/trailer prices and confirmation of unusual loads before you travel.
How to Prepare for Portarlington Civic Amenity Site
Check that today is an opening day
The normal pattern is Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday are closed.
Remove general waste from the load
Portarlington no longer accepts domestic residual waste, so separate black bags and other non-recyclable refuse before travelling.
Separate the recycling streams
Keep glass, cardboard, paper, metal, green waste, WEEE, batteries, textiles, oil, tyres and hazardous household items separate where possible.
Check vehicle and item restrictions
Confirm trailer charges, the two-tyre customer quota, timber rules and paint restrictions before loading a large or unusual trip.
Arrive before last entry
Plan to be at the gate before 3:15pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, or before 1:15pm on Saturday.
Other Laois Recycling and Waste Routes
Laois County Council operates another civic amenity facility at Portlaoise/Kyletalesha. That facility has a different timetable, broader fee schedule and accepts some waste categories that Portarlington does not.
Portlaoise Civic Amenity Site
Useful when you need a Laois council facility with a broader published waste-disposal fee schedule. Check its own charges before travelling.
Portarlington bring bank
Laois County Council also lists a bring bank at the SuperValu car park, R32 DVF6, for simpler glass/can drop-off needs.
WEEE retailer take-back
If you are replacing an electrical product, free retailer take-back may be more convenient than driving to a civic amenity site.
Portarlington Recycling Centre FAQ
What are Portarlington Recycling Centre opening hours?
The normal hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8am–3:30pm and Saturday 8am–1:30pm. Last entry is 3:15pm on weekdays and 1:15pm on Saturday. Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday and public/bank holidays are closed.
Where is Portarlington Recycling Centre?
Portarlington Civic Amenity Site is on Lea Road, Portarlington, Co. Laois, Eircode R32 T291.
What is the Portarlington Recycling Centre phone number?
Laois County Council’s bring-centre listing gives 057 8642845. The contracted operator AES Recycling can also be contacted on 045 580060.
How much does Portarlington Recycling Centre cost?
Laois County Council currently lists €5 for a car and €10 for a small van. AES Recycling also publishes additional prices for trailer and larger vehicle combinations.
Can I bring general household rubbish to Portarlington?
No. Laois County Council states that domestic waste is no longer accepted at Portarlington Civic Amenity Site.
Does Portarlington accept mattresses?
No. Mattresses and furniture are specifically excluded from the current Portarlington service.
Can I bring electrical items?
Yes. Portarlington is an approved household WEEE drop-off and MyWaste lists it for free electrical/battery recycling.
Can I recycle batteries at Portarlington?
Yes. Laois County Council lists Portarlington Civic Amenity Site as a household battery recycling location.
Can I bring paint?
Yes, but the council says paint cans are accepted only from domestic customers. Businesses should use an authorised commercial waste route.
Can I bring car tyres?
Yes, subject to the site’s conditions and quota. Laois County Council currently specifies a maximum of two car tyres per customer.
Can I bring timber?
Suitable timber is accepted, but plywood, pressed wood and chipboard are specifically excluded from the recyclable timber stream.
Does Portarlington accept commercial waste?
No. The current Laois County Council information specifically says commercial waste is not accepted.
Who operates Portarlington Recycling Centre?
The facility is managed by Laois County Council and operated under contract by AES Recycling.
Official Information Checked for This Guide
The address, hours, last-entry rules, main charges, domestic-waste restriction and accepted-material list were checked against Laois County Council. AES Recycling was checked for the operator’s broader vehicle-charge and accepted-material details, while MyWaste was used to confirm the civic amenity, electrical/battery and lightbulb functions.
- Laois County Council — Civic Amenity Sites
- Laois County Council — Bring Centres
- Laois County Council — WEEE and Batteries
- AES Recycling — Portarlington Civic Amenity
- MyWaste — Portarlington Recycling Centre
Opening hours, charges, accepted materials and operator arrangements can change. For a trailer, hazardous item, large load or unusual material, check the live council/operator information before travelling.
Independent information guide. RecyclingCentreIreland.org is not Laois County Council or AES Recycling and does not operate Portarlington Civic Amenity Site.
Use Laois County Council and the current site operator for final confirmation of opening hours, fees and material acceptance.