Estuary Recycling Centre: Opening Hours, Address & Charges
Use this quick Fingal guide before visiting Estuary Recycling Centre in Swords. Check the opening hours, last vehicle entry time, accepted free recycling, charged waste, payment rules and what to avoid bringing.
Independent guide for recyclingcentreireland.org. Always check the official Fingal page before travelling, especially on bank holidays, bad-weather days and seasonal opening changes.
Quick answer for visitors
Estuary Recycling Centre is a Fingal County Council civic amenity site in Swords, beside Swords Business Park. It is for household recycling and household waste drop-off only; commercial waste is not accepted.
Household recyclable waste such as paper, cardboard, cans, glass bottles, WEEE, clothes and oils is free, but bulky waste, green waste, soil/stones and household hazardous waste have charges.
Do this before leaving home
Plan around last entry: Monday to Friday, last vehicle entry is 7.30pm. Saturday, last vehicle entry is 5.30pm. The centre is closed Sundays and bank holidays.
Bring a debit or credit card for charged loads, sort your car before you arrive, and do not bring children if possible because Fingal asks visitors to avoid bringing children to the centres.
Estuary Recycling Centre Opening Hours 2026
Fingal County Council lists Estuary Recycling Centre as open Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm, with last vehicle entry at 7.30pm. On Saturday it is open from 8am to 6pm, with last vehicle entry at 5.30pm. It is closed on Sundays and bank holidays.
| Day | Opening hours | Last vehicle entry | Visitor note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 8.00am – 8.00pm | 7.30pm | Good day for sorted recycling if you want to avoid weekend pressure. |
| Tuesday | 8.00am – 8.00pm | 7.30pm | Bring card payment if you have charged waste. |
| Wednesday | 8.00am – 8.00pm | 7.30pm | Sort free recycling separately before arrival. |
| Thursday | 8.00am – 8.00pm | 7.30pm | Check bad-weather updates before travelling in storms. |
| Friday | 8.00am – 8.00pm | 7.30pm | Avoid arriving at the last minute with mixed loads. |
| Saturday | 8.00am – 6.00pm | 5.30pm | Usually busier; sort your boot before you arrive. |
| Sunday | Closed | Closed | Use another open facility only after checking official hours. |
| Bank holidays | Closed | Closed | Check Fingal updates for Easter, Christmas and public holidays. |
Important: do not treat closing time as arrival time. Last vehicle entry is 30 minutes before closing, and special events, weather, Easter or Christmas can change normal hours.
Estuary Recycling Centre Address, Phone Number and Location
Fingal County Council describes Estuary Recycling Centre as located in Swords, beside Swords Business Park. MyWaste lists it as Estuary Recycling Centre at Seatown Park, Swords, Dublin.
Address wording
Estuary Recycling Centre, Swords, beside Swords Business Park. It is commonly searched as Seatown Park / Seatown East, Swords, Co. Dublin.
Phone support
The current Fingal recycling-centres page lists 01 890 5000. Some older listings may show a different direct centre number, so use the official page first.
Best map search
Search “Estuary Recycling Centre Swords” or use the embedded map below for directions, then check Fingal for live hours and closures.
Local tip: if you are coming from Swords, Malahide, Portmarnock, Donabate, Kinsealy or North Dublin, check traffic and do not arrive with a mixed unsorted load near last entry.
Estuary Recycling Centre Charges: General Waste and Green Waste
From 1 January 2025, Fingal County Council lists revised charges for non-recyclable and green household waste at Estuary and Coolmine Recycling Centres. Household recyclable waste remains free.
| Vehicle / load type | General waste charge | Green waste charge | Useful example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car boot | €12 | €6 | Small amount of bulky/general waste or garden waste in a boot. |
| Full car / Jeep / SUV | €30 | €10 | More household bulky waste, branches, bags of leaves or mixed charged load. |
| Car van / car plus trailer | €50 | €35 | Large household clear-out or garden load. |
| Van / intermediate / Transit | €128 | €80 | Large load; remember commercial waste is not accepted. |
Payment tip: Fingal says you can pay by debit or credit card at the recycling centre. Bring a card and do not assume cash will be easier at the gate.
Do not mix free recycling into a charged load if you can avoid it. Sort paper, cans, WEEE, bottles, clothes and oils separately so you do not waste time or money at the wrong bay.
What You Can Bring Free of Charge to Estuary Recycling Centre
Fingal lists household recyclable waste as free. These items should be clean, sorted and placed in the correct area when you arrive.
Paper, cartons and cardboard
Paper, cardboard and cartons are listed as free. Flatten boxes before travelling so your boot is easier to unload.
Tins, cans and plastic packaging
Tins, cans, clean plastic packaging and plastic bottles are listed as free. Fingal says plastic bottles should be washed and squashed with tops removed.
Glass bottles and jars
Glass bottles and jars are accepted free. Keep them separate from bulky waste to avoid delays at the centre.
Clothes and textiles
Clothes are accepted free. If items are good quality, consider charity donation before disposal.
WEEE and bulbs
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, fluorescent tubes and energy-saving bulbs are listed as accepted free.
Batteries and oils
Car batteries, household batteries, cooking oil and engine oil are listed as free. Keep oils sealed and upright.
Reuse first: if furniture, clothes, books, toys or homeware are still usable, Fingal encourages considering charity, selling online or another reuse route before disposal.
What Is Accepted With a Charge at Estuary Recycling Centre?
Charged materials are usually items that need extra handling, processing or disposal. Fingal lists bulky waste, wood, metal, green waste, soil/stones, duvets/pillows and household hazardous waste as accepted with a charge.
| Charged category | Examples | Before you load the car |
|---|---|---|
| Bulky waste | Furniture, carpet, mattresses and similar large household items. | Check if the item can be donated or reused first. |
| Wood and metal | Household wood or metal items from a home clear-out. | Keep sharp edges safe and separate from free recycling. |
| Green waste | Grass clippings, leaves, branches and tree trimmings. | Use the green-waste charge table, not the general-waste table. |
| Soil and stones | Small household quantities of soil, stones or garden material. | Do not overload the vehicle; heavy loads can be awkward to unload. |
| Duvets and pillows | Bulky bedding that cannot go into ordinary recycling. | Bag them neatly and keep them separate from clothes donations. |
| Household hazardous waste | Paint, herbicides, household cleaners and similar household hazardous items. | Keep containers sealed, upright and labelled where possible. |
Hazardous waste warning: do not pour paint, oil, chemicals or cleaners into drains or ordinary bins. Keep containers secure and follow staff instructions at the centre.
What Not to Bring or Expect at Estuary Recycling Centre
Fingal’s official visitor notes are important because they affect your trip. The recycling centres are for household waste only, commercial waste is not accepted, household refuse will not be accepted, staff are not permitted to help lift items, and public toilet facilities are not available.
Do not bring or expect
- Commercial waste.
- Ordinary household refuse / black-bin style rubbish.
- Staff lifting help for heavy items.
- Public toilet facilities.
- A guaranteed opening day during severe weather.
Better plan
- Bring another adult if items are heavy.
- Sort free recycling and charged waste before arrival.
- Check bank holiday updates first.
- Keep children at home if possible.
- Bring card payment for charged loads.
Heavy-item warning: if you cannot safely lift it yourself, do not assume staff will unload it for you. Arrange help before travelling.
What Are You Bringing to Estuary Recycling Centre?
Choose the closest option below. This helper is not a replacement for Fingal’s official list, but it helps you avoid common mistakes before you pack the car.
Select your load
Likely route: these are usually free household recyclable items if clean and sorted.
Before you go: separate them from any charged bulky or green waste so you do not waste time at the wrong bay.
Which Charge Applies to My Vehicle or Load?
Fingal’s charge table is based on vehicle/load type and waste category. The same car can have a different charge depending on whether it is carrying general bulky waste or green waste.
| Load example | Likely category | Why | Money-saving step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardboard boxes, cans and plastic bottles | Free recycling | These are listed as free recyclable items if clean and sorted. | Flatten boxes and keep them separate. |
| Mattress and old carpet | General waste charge | Bulky waste is listed as accepted with a charge. | Check if reusable item can be donated first. |
| Grass cuttings and tree branches | Green waste charge | Green waste has a separate lower charge table. | Keep green waste separate from bulky waste. |
| Old kettle, TV or batteries | Free WEEE / batteries | WEEE and batteries are listed as free. | Use the WEEE/battery area and follow staff signs. |
| Paint tins and household cleaners | Hazardous charge | Household hazardous waste is listed as accepted with a charge. | Keep containers sealed and upright. |
Before You Visit Estuary Recycling Centre: 10-Point Checklist
This checklist saves time at the gate and reduces the chance of paying more than needed.
Check the official Fingal page for live hours, bank holidays and bad-weather closures.
Plan to arrive before last vehicle entry: 7.30pm weekdays or 5.30pm Saturday.
Sort free recycling away from charged bulky or green waste.
Bring a debit or credit card if you may have a charged load.
Do not bring commercial waste.
Do not bring ordinary household refuse / black-bin rubbish.
Bring help for heavy items because staff cannot lift items for customers.
Keep oils, paint and chemicals sealed and upright.
Consider charity donation if items are still usable.
Avoid bringing children if possible, following Fingal’s visitor guidance.
Before You Pay: Can the Item Be Reused or Donated?
Fingal encourages residents to consider donating good-condition items, selling online or using community noticeboards before disposal. This is especially useful for furniture, clothes, books, toys, homeware and musical instruments.
Good for donation
Clean clothes, shoes, handbags, accessories, books, toys and small homeware may be suitable for charity if in good condition.
Good for repair or reuse
Some furniture, bikes, instruments and home items may still have value if repaired, cleaned or offered locally.
Still need the centre?
If the item is broken, unsafe, contaminated or cannot be reused, sort it into the right free or charged category before travelling.
Estuary Recycling Centre Map and Official Fingal Recycling Video
The map below is for directions to Estuary Recycling Centre in Swords. It does not show live queues, weather closures, gate decisions, item acceptance or the exact charge for a mixed load.
Important: do not rely on map opening times alone. Use Fingal’s official recycling-centres page for current opening hours, last-entry rules, charges and closure notices.
Official Fingal video: what recycling centres accept
This Fingal County Council recycling-centres video is useful before visiting because it highlights the kinds of items accepted and helps residents understand how civic amenity sites work.
What People Really Need When Searching Estuary Recycling Centre
Most people are not looking for a keyword list. They need a clear trip plan: opening hours, last entry, address, charges, accepted items, what is free, what is not accepted, how to pay and whether the item should be donated instead.
If you searched opening hours
Use the opening-hours table and remember last vehicle entry is earlier than closing time.
If you searched charges
Check whether your load is general waste, green waste or free recycling before you leave home.
If you searched address
Use the Swords map, but verify live Fingal details before travelling on holidays or stormy days.
FAQ: Estuary Recycling Centre Swords 2026
What are Estuary Recycling Centre opening hours?
Estuary Recycling Centre is listed as open Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm with last vehicle entry at 7.30pm, and Saturday from 8am to 6pm with last vehicle entry at 5.30pm. It is closed Sundays and bank holidays.
Where is Estuary Recycling Centre located?
Fingal County Council describes it as Estuary Recycling Centre, Swords, beside Swords Business Park. MyWaste lists it at Seatown Park, Swords, Dublin.
What is the Estuary Recycling Centre phone number?
The current Fingal recycling-centres page lists 01 890 5000. Some older listings show older or direct numbers, so check Fingal’s official page before relying on an old directory.
Is recycling free at Estuary Recycling Centre?
Household recyclable waste such as paper, cardboard, cans, WEEE, clothes, glass bottles, cooking oil and similar listed recyclables is free. Bulky, green and hazardous household waste may be charged.
How much does general waste cost at Estuary Recycling Centre?
Fingal lists general waste charges from 1 January 2025 as €12 for a car boot, €30 for a full car/Jeep/SUV, €50 for a car van/car plus trailer, and €128 for an intermediate/Transit van.
How much does green waste cost?
Fingal lists green waste charges as €6 for a car boot, €10 for a full car/Jeep/SUV, €35 for a car van/car plus trailer, and €80 for an intermediate/Transit van.
Can I bring commercial waste?
No. Fingal says recycling centres are for household waste only and commercial waste is not accepted.
Can I bring household refuse or black-bin bags?
Fingal’s visitor notes say household refuse will not be accepted. Use the centre for accepted household recyclables and listed charged household materials instead.
Will staff help me lift heavy items?
No. Fingal says staff are not permitted to assist customers to lift items. Bring another adult if you cannot safely unload items yourself.
Can the centre close during bad weather?
Yes. Fingal notes that recycling centres may have to close during bad weather for health and safety reasons. Check the official page or council updates before travelling.
Official and Helpful Links Used in This Guide
- Fingal County Council recycling centres page
- Fingal recycling-centre charges update
- MyWaste Estuary Recycling Centre listing
- Fingal environment FAQs
- MyWaste what-to-do-with-my-waste guide
- Fingal County Council recycling centres video
- Enable Ireland donation bank listing at Estuary
- Musical instruments reuse project