Check Avoca Recycling Centre Before You Drive to Ballymurtagh
Avoca Recycling Centre is Wicklow County Council’s household recycling facility at Ballymurtagh, Avoca, Co. Wicklow, Y14 X028. It opens Tuesday to Saturday, with a one-hour lunch closure on weekdays.
The centre accepts many clean, separated recycling streams, but it is household-use only and several common bulky or construction-type items are specifically excluded.
Important: a current Avoca fee schedule was not published on the council pages checked for this update, so confirm any charge before bringing a load where price matters.
Quick answer
Address: Ballymurtagh Recycling Centre, Ballymurtagh, Avoca, Co. Wicklow, Y14 X028.
Hours: Tuesday–Thursday 9am–1pm and 2pm–4pm; Friday 9am–1pm and 2pm–3:30pm; Saturday 9am–1:45pm. Closed Monday, Sunday and public holidays.
Before loading the car
The council leaflet says the facility is for household use only. Commercial waste is not accepted.
Separate cardboard, glass, cans, textiles, electricals, metals, paper, plastics and oils before travelling. Mixed or unsuitable material can slow down unloading or be refused.
Avoca Recycling Centre Opening Hours
Wicklow County Council’s live Avoca page shows the following normal opening pattern. Tuesday to Friday includes a full lunch closure from 1pm to 2pm.
| Day | Opening hours | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed | Do not plan a normal Monday visit. |
| Tuesday | 9am–1pm & 2pm–4pm | Closed for lunch 1pm–2pm. |
| Wednesday | 9am–1pm & 2pm–4pm | Closed for lunch 1pm–2pm. |
| Thursday | 9am–1pm & 2pm–4pm | Closed for lunch 1pm–2pm. |
| Friday | 9am–1pm & 2pm–3:30pm | Friday closes earlier. |
| Saturday | 9am–1:45pm | Short continuous Saturday opening. |
| Sunday | Closed | No normal Sunday service. |
| Public holidays | Closed | Check council notices around holiday periods. |
Lunch closure matters: arriving at 1:10pm on a weekday means waiting until 2pm. Friday also closes at 3:30pm rather than 4pm.
Avoca Recycling Centre Address and Eircode
Ballymurtagh
Avoca
Co. Wicklow
Y14 X028
Use the Eircode Y14 X028 when navigating. The council describes the facility as Ballymurtagh Recycling Centre even though residents commonly search for “Avoca Recycling Centre”.
Independent-site clarification: RecyclingCentreIreland.org provides information about the facility but does not operate it. Wicklow County Council is the responsible local authority.
Avoca Recycling Centre Charges: What Can Be Confirmed?
The current Wicklow County Council Avoca page and its linked facility leaflet publish opening hours, household-use rules and accepted materials, but they do not provide a current general Avoca price table.
Do not rely on an old fee list. Historic articles and older council discussions about recycling-centre charging do not establish the price that applies to your load today. If your visit could involve a fee, confirm it with Wicklow County Council on 0404 20100 before travelling.
One important free stream that can be verified
Wicklow County Council’s WEEE guidance states that household electrical and electronic equipment can be taken back through civic amenity and recycling centres free of charge. The council also notes that contaminated equipment does not have to be accepted.
Best approach: tell the council exactly what you are bringing and roughly how much. Asking “is the recycling centre free?” is less useful because different materials can have different handling rules.
What Avoca Recycling Centre Accepts
The official Avoca leaflet provides an item-by-item acceptance list. Materials should be clean, separated and placed in the correct receptacle.
| Material | Status | Preparation or restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Household WEEE | Accepted | Non-commercial electrical/electronic items with a plug or battery. |
| Aluminium / steel | Accepted | Council leaflet specifies material with at least 80% metal. |
| Batteries | Accepted | Includes lead-acid and common primary batteries such as AA and AAA. |
| Bikes | Accepted | Accepted as scrap metal. |
| Books | Accepted | Keep dry and separate. |
| Cardboard | Accepted | Clean and flatten where possible. |
| Clothing & textiles | Accepted selectively | Clothing should be clean; shoes should be paired. Several bulky/soiled textile items are excluded. |
| Light bulbs | Accepted | Leaflet lists fluorescent tubes, long-life and filament bulbs. |
| Bottles & jar glass | Accepted | Clean, remove lids and sort by colour. |
| Garden waste | Accepted | Keep separate from mixed rubbish. |
| Paper | Accepted | Newspapers, magazines and shredded paper are listed. |
| Plastic bottles & food containers | Accepted | Must be cleaned. |
| White polystyrene | Check with staff | Only certain white polystyrene is listed; pellets, beads and several other forms are excluded. |
| Tetra Paks | Accepted | Milk and juice cartons are listed. |
| Cooking / engine oil | Accepted | Use secure containers and keep oils separate. |
Sorting tip: the council asks users to clean and separate recyclables before arrival. Packing the car by material type makes it easier to reach the correct receptacle without re-sorting on site.
Items Not Accepted at Avoca Recycling Centre
The Avoca leaflet includes a specific “No” list. This is particularly important because some of these materials may be accepted at larger facilities elsewhere but are not part of Avoca’s normal service.
Bulky, building and household items
- Mattresses
- Bulky furniture
- Ceramic toilets
- Construction and demolition waste
- Car seats
- Carpets
- Cushions
- Duvets and pillows
Other excluded materials
- Tyres
- Kerosene tanks
- Full or empty paint cans
- Commercial fridges and freezers
- Pyrex and crockery
- Drinking glasses
- Fibreglass and delph
- Several foam/polystyrene products
Do not assume all “glass” is the same. Bottles and jars are accepted, and the leaflet also lists certain flat-glass forms, but Pyrex, crockery, drinking glasses and fibreglass are excluded.
Electricals, Lawnmowers, Textiles and Other Awkward Items
Can I bring an old television or household appliance?
Yes, household WEEE is listed at Avoca. Examples in the official leaflet include washing machines, cookers, laptops, computer monitors, televisions, kettles and toasters. Commercial fridges and freezers are excluded.
Can I bring a petrol lawnmower?
The leaflet lists plug-in, battery and petrol lawnmowers, but petrol and oil must be removed from a petrol machine before it is brought to the site.
Can I bring old clothing?
Clean clothing and paired shoes are accepted. Soiled clothing, cushions, carpets, duvets, pillows and other listed bulky textile items are not accepted through this stream.
Can I bring polystyrene?
Only white polystyrene is listed, and the council specifically advises checking with staff because manufacturing types vary. Pellets, beads, film-coated polystyrene, foam and attic insulation are excluded.
Can I bring paint cans?
No. The council’s Avoca leaflet lists paint cans, both full and empty, in the “No” column.
Can I bring general construction waste?
No. Construction and demolition waste is specifically excluded from Avoca’s normal acceptance list.
Five Steps Before Visiting Avoca Recycling Centre
Check the day
Avoca is closed on Monday, Sunday and public holidays. Do not assume the weekday pattern used by other Wicklow centres applies here.
Avoid the lunch closure
Tuesday to Friday, the gate schedule includes a 1pm–2pm lunch closure. Friday afternoon also ends earlier at 3:30pm.
Remove excluded material
Take out mattresses, construction waste, tyres, paint cans, bulky furniture and other excluded items before loading the car.
Clean and sort recyclables
Flatten cardboard, clean glass and cans, pair shoes and separate each waste stream so it can go directly into the correct receptacle.
Confirm unclear charges or materials
If price matters or your item does not clearly match the council leaflet, call Wicklow County Council on 0404 20100 rather than relying on an old list.
Map to Avoca Recycling Centre, Ballymurtagh
Use Y14 X028 for navigation. The map helps with route planning but does not show temporary closures or whether a particular load will be accepted.
What If Avoca Does Not Accept Your Item?
Wicklow County Council operates five recycling centres in the county: Avoca, Arklow, Wicklow Town, Bray and Rampere. The material range and opening pattern can differ by site, so a rejected Avoca item should not automatically be driven to another centre without checking that centre first.
For a county-wide comparison of the five facilities, use the existing Recycling Centre Ireland Wicklow guide.
Avoca Recycling Centre FAQ
What are Avoca Recycling Centre opening hours?
The current council hours are Tuesday to Thursday 9am–1pm and 2pm–4pm, Friday 9am–1pm and 2pm–3:30pm, and Saturday 9am–1:45pm.
Is Avoca Recycling Centre open on Monday?
No. The council currently lists Avoca as closed on Monday, Sunday and public holidays.
Does Avoca Recycling Centre close for lunch?
Yes. Tuesday to Friday it closes from 1pm to 2pm.
What is the Avoca Recycling Centre Eircode?
The official address is Ballymurtagh, Avoca, Co. Wicklow, Y14 X028.
Does Avoca Recycling Centre accept commercial waste?
No. Wicklow County Council’s Avoca leaflet says the facility is for household use only and commercial waste is not accepted.
Are electrical items accepted at Avoca?
Yes. Non-commercial household WEEE is listed as accepted. Wicklow County Council also states that household WEEE can be recycled free of charge through civic amenity and recycling centres, subject to the scheme rules.
Can I bring a mattress to Avoca Recycling Centre?
No. Mattresses are listed in the “No” section of the official Avoca facility leaflet.
Can I bring paint to Avoca Recycling Centre?
The official Avoca leaflet lists full and empty paint cans as not accepted.
Can I bring tyres to Avoca?
No. Tyres appear in the leaflet’s not-accepted list.
How much does Avoca Recycling Centre charge?
The current Wicklow County Council Avoca page and facility leaflet checked for this article do not publish a current general fee table. Confirm the applicable charge for your material with Wicklow County Council before travelling if price matters.
Official Sources Checked
This article uses Wicklow County Council’s live Avoca Recycling Centre page, its facility leaflet and the council’s WEEE guidance. The broader County Wicklow recycling-centre page was also checked for centre coverage.
- Wicklow County Council — Avoca Recycling Centre
- Wicklow County Council — Recycling Centres
- Wicklow County Council — WEEE Householders Guide
Opening hours and acceptance rules can change because of public holidays, maintenance, operational issues or revised waste arrangements. Check the official source when planning an unusual or time-sensitive visit.
Before You Travel to Avoca
Use Y14 X028, make sure the centre is open on your chosen day, avoid the 1pm–2pm weekday lunch closure, remove items listed as not accepted and sort the remaining recycling before loading the car.
If your item or charge is uncertain, call Wicklow County Council on 0404 20100 before travelling.
Independent information guide: RecyclingCentreIreland.org is not Wicklow County Council and does not operate Avoca Recycling Centre.