Sort Your Laghey Recycling Trip Before You Leave Home
Laghey Recycling Centre serves households around Donegal Town and south Donegal with both free recycling streams and chargeable recycling, food waste, household waste and bulky-item routes.
The current timetable is only Thursday to Saturday, with a lunch closure on Thursday and Friday. Check the waste category before loading because glass or WEEE may be free while cardboard, plastic, oils, paint, garden waste, black bags and bulky goods can carry separate charges.
Laghey Recycling Centre at a Glance
Laghey Recycling Centre is at Carrick East, Laghey, Co. Donegal, Eircode F94 HX09. Current Donegal County Council material lists the centre open Thursday 10:30am–5pm, Friday 8:30am–5pm and Saturday 8:30am–2:30pm.
The current Bryson/Donegal leaflet shows a lunch closure from 12:30pm to 1:15pm on Thursday and Friday. Saturday runs continuously to 2:30pm.
Simple free recyclables
Glass, cans, textiles, batteries and household electrical goods are among the materials currently listed as free.
General rubbish
Household waste is accepted, but it is not free. Current council guidance lists €5 per bag up to 10 kg.
Bulky clear-out?
Mattresses, sofas, timber, carpets and some other bulky household items can be accepted with separate charges.
Ignore old Friday-hour listings. Older sources still show Laghey closing around 2:30pm on Friday. The newer Donegal County Council/Bryson extended-hours material lists Friday opening until 5pm.
Laghey Recycling Centre Opening Hours
Laghey opens three days each week. Friday is now a full-day option under the newer extended opening schedule.
| Day | Current hours | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed | No normal service. |
| Tuesday | Closed | No normal service. |
| Wednesday | Closed | No normal service. |
| Thursday | 10:30am–5:00pm | Lunch closure 12:30pm–1:15pm. |
| Friday | 8:30am–5:00pm | Lunch closure 12:30pm–1:15pm. |
| Saturday | 8:30am–2:30pm | Shorter weekend opening. |
| Sunday | Closed | No normal Sunday service. |
Best practical window: Friday gives the longest current access period. If you have a mixed, bulky or chargeable load, avoid arriving close to lunch or closing time.
Laghey Recycling Centre Address, Eircode and Phone
Donegal County Council’s current material gives the site as Laghey, Co. Donegal, while MyWaste identifies the locality more specifically as Carrick East.
Address for navigation
Laghey Recycling Centre
Carrick East
Laghey
Co. Donegal
F94 HX09
Contact details
Laghey site: 086 142 6503
Bryson general recycling contact: 086 777 9325
Donegal County Council: 074 91 53900
Navigation tip: use the Eircode F94 HX09 or search for “Laghey Recycling Centre”. Do not confuse it with private waste businesses elsewhere around Laghey or Donegal Town.
Laghey Recycling Centre Charges
Donegal’s recycling centres do not use one simple gate price for every load. Some streams are free, some recycling categories are charged, and general or bulky waste has its own prices.
| Material | Current published charge | Preparation / limit |
|---|---|---|
| Glass, cans, textiles, household WEEE and batteries | Free | Separate into the correct recycling streams. |
| Paper, cardboard, cartons, rigid plastic, soft plastic and waste oils | €1–€8 range | Exact amount depends on material/load; sort first. |
| Car tyre | €4 each | Current county recycling-centre charge. |
| Gas bottle / cylinder | €2 each | Keep separate and inform site staff. |
| Waste paint | €1 per 5L tin | Accepted throughout the year under current council guidance. |
| Clean white polystyrene | €2 per bag | Clean white polystyrene only. |
| Garden waste | €2 per bag | Bag separately from general rubbish. |
| Food waste 0–2 kg | €1 | Use compostable bag or approved preparation. |
| Food waste 3–5 kg | €2 | Keep free of plastic/foil/glass contamination. |
| Food waste 6–10 kg | €4 | Household food-waste route. |
| General household waste | €5 per bag up to 10 kg | Extra €1 for each additional 2.5 kg. |
Payment: Donegal County Council confirms that card payments are now available at all six county recycling centres.
Do not assume the €1–€8 recycling range covers bulky goods. Mattresses, sofas, timber, carpet and similar loads use separate item or weight-based pricing.
What Can You Recycle Free at Laghey?
Donegal County Council says its six recycling centres have an extensive free area. The current Bryson material lists the following household streams among the free categories.
Free does not mean mixed. Put WEEE, batteries, glass, textiles, metal and cans into separate groups before leaving home so staff can route the load correctly.
What Items Does Laghey Recycling Centre Accept?
The facility covers considerably more than a bottle bank. It handles both recyclable material and selected household waste streams.
Dry household recycling
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Cartons
- Rigid plastics
- Soft plastics
- Glass
- Cans
Electrical and metal
- Small household appliances
- Large household appliances
- TVs and monitors
- Mobile phones
- Batteries and car batteries
- Scrap metal
Household waste streams
- General household waste bags
- Food waste
- Garden waste
- Waste cooking oil
- Waste engine oil
- Waste paint
Other accepted categories
- Textiles
- Car tyres
- Gas cylinders
- Clean white polystyrene
- Mattresses and sofas
- Timber and selected bulky goods
Unusual load? The published list does not prove that every quantity or every variant of an item is accepted. Phone first for demolition-style material, chemicals, multiple tyres, large quantities of timber or a full house-clearance load.
Rigid and Soft Plastic Must Be Kept Separate
Donegal County Council expanded soft-plastic recycling across all six recycling centres. Soft plastic has its own collection area and should not be mixed with rigid plastic.
Examples of soft plastic
Plastic bags, bread bags, fruit and vegetable bags, crisp bags, biscuit and sweet wrappers, food pouches and parcel packaging.
Preparation rule
Plastic packaging intended for recycling should be clean, dry and loose. Keep soft plastic separate from rigid bottles, pots, tubs and trays.
Sort before the car journey. Having separate bags or boxes for soft plastic, rigid plastic, cardboard and glass makes the drop-off faster and reduces contamination.
Can You Bring General Household Waste to Laghey?
Yes. Unlike recycling-only civic amenity sites in some counties, Donegal’s current guidance says the six recycling centres accept household waste for disposal.
Normal household waste bag
Current published charge is €5 for a bag weighing no more than 10 kg.
Heavier bag
An additional €1 is charged for every extra 2.5 kg over the 10 kg base limit.
Food waste
Separate food waste costs €1 for up to 2 kg, €2 for 3–5 kg and €4 for 6–10 kg.
Do not contaminate food waste. Donegal’s recycling campaign specifically warns against plastic, foil and glass getting into food-waste material.
Paint and Waste Oil at Laghey
Waste paint is now a year-round recycling-centre service in Donegal. The council currently charges €1 per 5-litre paint tin.
Waste paint
Keep paint in secure containers and separate from normal dry recycling. The current county charge is based on a 5-litre tin.
Cooking and engine oil
Both are part of Donegal’s chargeable recycling streams. Transport oils upright in secure containers and do not mix different liquids.
Special chemical waste: do not infer from paint acceptance that every hazardous household chemical can be brought routinely. Contact Bryson or Donegal County Council for pesticides, solvents, unknown liquids or leaking containers.
Bulky Waste Charges at Laghey Recycling Centre
Donegal County Council periodically runs discounted bulky-waste campaigns. A 2025 Laghey promotion revealed the normal benchmark prices used immediately before the discount, but those figures should be treated as a useful guide rather than a permanent 2026 tariff.
| Bulky material | Normal price shown in 2025 campaign | 2026 advice |
|---|---|---|
| Single mattress | €15 | Confirm current standard price before travelling. |
| Double mattress | €25 | Confirm current standard price. |
| King-size mattress | €30 | Confirm current standard price. |
| Three-piece sofa suite | €70 | Weight can affect final price. |
| Carpet | €25 | Size/weight may affect charge. |
| Wood | €0.40/kg | Confirm current per-kilo rate. |
| Other bulky waste | €0.55/kg | May cover toilets, sinks, shower trays, outdoor toys, tiles or small rubble quantities, subject to site acceptance. |
Do not use an old promotion price. The half-price 2025 campaign was temporary. This table shows the normal prices stated in that campaign only to help estimate the type of charging used. Phone for the actual current price of a bulky load.
Bring help for heavy objects. Donegal County Council’s bulky-waste campaign specifically advised customers to bring assistance for unloading mattresses, furniture and other heavy goods.
How to Prepare for a Laghey Recycling Centre Visit
Check the day and lunch closure
Laghey normally opens Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Thursday and Friday currently close for lunch from 12:30pm to 1:15pm.
Separate free and chargeable material
Keep glass, cans, WEEE, batteries, textiles and metal apart from cardboard, plastics, oils, waste bags and other chargeable categories.
Clean and dry recyclable packaging
Paper, cardboard and plastics should be prepared for recycling, with soft and rigid plastics kept separate.
Estimate bulky and waste charges
If bringing black bags, food waste, tyres, gas bottles, paint, timber, mattresses or furniture, check the appropriate charge first.
Phone about anything unusual
Use 086 142 6503 for the Laghey site or Bryson’s general contact before bringing chemicals, unusually large quantities or mixed building/clear-out waste.
When Is Laghey Recycling Centre Likely to Be Busy?
Donegal County Council’s recent bulky-goods campaign identified 11am–2pm as a peak period at the recycling centres and warned customers to expect queues during busy promotions.
For a normal visit, going earlier on Friday or Saturday may make unloading simpler, especially if you have several separately sorted streams.
Do not rush a mixed load near closing. Sorting cardboard, plastics, WEEE, oils, glass and household waste at the gate takes much longer than arriving with the car already organised.
If Laghey Is Closed: Other Donegal Recycling Centres
Donegal County Council operates six recycling centres through its contractor. Another site may be useful if Laghey is closed, but opening days differ significantly, so check each location before driving.
| Centre | Area it may suit | Check before travel |
|---|---|---|
| Stranorlar | Ballybofey, Finn Valley and east/south-east Donegal journeys. | Opening days and chargeable load. |
| Letterkenny | Letterkenny and central/north Donegal routes. | Longer journey versus opening pattern. |
| Milford | Milford, Ramelton and Fanad side. | Site-specific opening days. |
| Dungloe | West Donegal and Gaeltacht communities. | Current Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday pattern. |
| Carndonagh | Inishowen. | Travel distance and opening days. |
Laghey Recycling Centre FAQ
What are Laghey Recycling Centre opening hours?
The current normal hours are Thursday 10:30am–5pm, Friday 8:30am–5pm and Saturday 8:30am–2:30pm. Thursday and Friday currently include a lunch closure from 12:30pm to 1:15pm.
Where is Laghey Recycling Centre?
Laghey Recycling Centre is in Carrick East, Laghey, Co. Donegal. The current Eircode is F94 HX09.
What is the Laghey Recycling Centre phone number?
The current Donegal County Council/Bryson leaflet lists 086 142 6503 for Laghey. Bryson’s general Donegal recycling contact is 086 777 9325.
Is recycling free at Laghey?
Some household recycling is free, including glass, cans, textiles, batteries and electrical goods. Other materials such as paper, cardboard, cartons, plastics and waste oils have charges.
Can I bring black bags or general household rubbish?
Yes. Current Donegal guidance lists household waste at €5 per bag up to 10 kg, with an additional €1 for every extra 2.5 kg.
Can I recycle electrical items for free?
Yes. Small and large household appliances, TVs, monitors, mobile phones and other listed WEEE streams are accepted free under the current Donegal recycling-centre system.
Does Laghey accept paint?
Yes. Donegal County Council says waste paint is accepted year-round at €1 per 5-litre tin.
Can I bring soft plastic?
Yes. Soft plastics are accepted at all six Donegal recycling centres. They must be kept separate from rigid plastics and should be clean, dry and loose.
Can I bring food waste?
Yes. Current charges are €1 for up to 2 kg, €2 for 3–5 kg and €4 for 6–10 kg. Keep plastic, foil and glass out of the food-waste stream.
Does Laghey accept tyres?
Current Donegal guidance lists car tyres at €4 each. For multiple, unusual or non-car tyres, contact the centre before travelling.
Can I bring a mattress or sofa?
Yes, bulky household items such as mattresses and sofas can be accepted with separate charges. Because bulky prices can change and temporary discount campaigns occur, confirm the current standard charge before loading the vehicle.
Can I pay by card?
Yes. Donegal County Council states that card payments are available at all six county recycling centres.
Official Information Checked for This Guide
Current opening hours, free and chargeable recycling categories, soft-plastic rules, paint acceptance and card payment information were checked against Donegal County Council and its current Bryson Recycling leaflet. Recent council bulky-waste material was used only to explain how bulky pricing works and not as a permanent promotion price.
- Donegal County Council — Recycling Centres
- Donegal County Council / Bryson — Recycling Centres Leaflet
- Bryson Recycling
- MyWaste — national recycling locator
Opening hours, prices, bulky-waste tariffs and accepted-material rules can change. Check the live council or operator information before travelling with furniture, timber, multiple tyres, hazardous items or another unusual load.
Independent information guide. RecyclingCentreIreland.org is not Donegal County Council or Bryson Recycling and does not operate Laghey Recycling Centre.
Use Donegal County Council and Bryson Recycling for final confirmation of current opening hours, charges and material acceptance.