Plan Your Smithstown Recycling Trip Before You Load the Car
Shannon Recycling Centre is useful for listed household recyclables, free WEEE/battery items, paint tins and small clean green waste — but only if your load matches the official rules.
This guide turns the official Clare County Council page into a practical visit plan: hours, charges, accepted items, what to sort at home, and what to check before travelling.
Always check the official page or phone before a special journey, especially near bank holidays, weather disruption or site changes.
Quick answer for Shannon, Smithstown and nearby Clare residents
The centre is at Shannon Recycling Centre, Smithstown, Shannon, Co. Clare, V14 YC99. The official phone number is 061 364483. Listed hours are Tuesday to Friday 10:00am–5:00pm and Saturday 9:00am–3:00pm; Monday and Sunday are closed.
Use Shannon for listed household recyclables only. Do not treat it as a mixed rubbish dump, a commercial waste route or a place to leave items outside the gate.
Charge and free-item snapshot
For recyclables, Clare County Council lists a €6 minimum/car charge, €10 for a car with small trailer, €14 for a light van and €30 for larger vehicle or trailer combinations. Free household items include WEEE, fluorescent tubes, waste batteries and clean dry textiles.
Paint and green waste have special limits: paint tins must be upright, max 10 per vehicle; green waste must be small, clean and presented in small containers.
Shannon Recycling Centre Opening Hours: Best Times to Visit
The normal official opening pattern is simple, but the practical advice is to avoid arriving near closing with an unsorted load. Saturday closes earlier than weekdays, so plan the trip before loading bulky or awkward items.
| Day | Official listed hours | Best visitor advice |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed | Do not travel. Use the day to sort materials at home. |
| Tuesday | 10:00am – 5:00pm | Good option if you want to avoid Saturday pressure. |
| Wednesday | 10:00am – 5:00pm | Useful for clean recyclables and WEEE/battery drop-off. |
| Thursday | 10:00am – 5:00pm | Good midweek day for paint or small green waste if packed correctly. |
| Friday | 10:00am – 5:00pm | Arrive with enough time before closing. |
| Saturday | 9:00am – 3:00pm | Arrive earlier; the shorter day can mean more pressure near closing. |
| Sunday | Closed | Do not leave items at the gate or beside nearby bring banks. |
Bank holiday caution: normal weekly hours may change around public holidays, severe weather, local notices or site works. Check Clare County Council or call 061 364483 before making a special journey.
Shannon Recycling Centre Address, Eircode and Contact Number
Use Smithstown, Shannon, Co. Clare, V14 YC99 for maps and sat-nav. The listed contact number is 061 364483. If you are unsure about an item, call before you load the car.
For Shannon town
Use the Smithstown location and sort items at home so you do not block the site while separating glass, WEEE, paint, batteries or cardboard.
For nearby villages
If travelling from Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Bunratty or Cratloe, check hours before loading the car.
For bigger Clare loads
If your item is not listed for Shannon, use Clare’s recycling-centres list or call the council before travelling.
Shannon Recycling Centre Charges: Car, Trailer, Light Van and Larger Vehicles
Charges depend mainly on the vehicle type and trailer size. The official charge list is for recyclables and states the prices are inclusive of VAT at 13.5%.
| Vehicle / load type | Listed charge | Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Car, car-based van, 4WD or equivalent | €6 | This is the common household car visit charge and the minimum charge. |
| Car, car-based van or 4WD with small trailer | €10 | Small trailer means max 1.2 cu.m / 42 cu.ft. as listed by the council. |
| Light van | €14 | Check before travelling if the van looks commercial or the load is not simple household recycling. |
| All other vehicles and vehicle/trailer combinations | €30 | For larger vehicles or combinations. Call first if unsure. |
| Minimum charge | €6 | The minimum charge applies even if your chargeable recyclable load is small. |
Small trailer check: Clare defines a small trailer as less than 1.8m / 6ft long and less than 0.6m / 2ft high. If your trailer is bigger, do not assume the €10 charge applies.
Plan Your Shannon Recycling Centre Visit in 30 Seconds
Most wasted trips happen because people bring the wrong item, arrive with loose green waste, pack paint badly, assume commercial waste is allowed, or forget Saturday closes earlier.
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 guessing: if your item is not on the list, check Clare County Council, MyWaste or call first.
| Item type | Accepted? | How to prepare it |
|---|---|---|
| Glass bottles and jars | Listed | Empty them and follow site instructions for separation. |
| Aluminium cans | Listed | Empty cans before bringing them. |
| Steel / tin cans | Listed | Clean enough to avoid smell, residue and mess. |
| Aerosols | Listed | Do not crush or puncture. Ask staff if unsure. |
| Plastic bottles | Listed | Empty bottles and do not mix with general rubbish. |
| Newspapers and magazines | Listed | Keep dry if possible. |
| Cardboard | Listed | Flatten boxes before leaving home. |
| Tetrapak | Listed | Empty cartons and keep separate from black-bag waste. |
| Waste oil, mixed fuel and oil filters | Listed | Keep sealed upright and avoid spills in the car. |
| Metal and timber | Listed | Bring manageable pieces and ask staff where to place them. |
Do not use the word “recycling” too loosely. Clare says to bring only the listed items. If your load is mixed rubbish, business waste, bulky waste or unknown material, call first.
Items You Can Bring Free of Charge as a Householder
Some items are listed as free for householders at Shannon. These are high-intent items because many people search for free electrical drop-off, battery recycling, fluorescent tube recycling or clothes recycling in Shannon.
Free items listed for householders
- Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, such as fridges, cookers and computers.
- Fluorescent tubes.
- Waste batteries.
- Textiles that are dry and clean.
Important preparation rules
- Keep batteries separate from ordinary waste.
- Do not put electrical items in your green bin or black bin.
- Textiles must be dry and clean.
- Pillows and duvets are not accepted in the textile list.
Battery safety: never throw batteries, vapes or electrical items into ordinary rubbish or mixed recycling. They can create fire risks and need a proper drop-off route.
Paint Tins and Green Waste Rules at Shannon Recycling Centre
Paint and green waste cause avoidable problems because people often bring them loose, leaking, oversized or in too large a quantity. Clare County Council gives specific rules for both.
| Item | Official 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; 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, call first and ask the correct route instead of arriving with a messy load.
What Not to Bring Without Checking First
The official page says to bring only the listed items. If your item is not listed, call first or check MyWaste so you do not waste a trip or create a safety issue at the site.
Mixed black bags
Do not assume general rubbish is accepted. Shannon is listed for defined recyclable household items.
Trade or commercial waste
The Shannon list is for domestic householders. Businesses should use a licensed commercial waste route.
Hazardous or unknown items
Chemicals, sharps, asbestos, leaking containers and unknown liquids need official advice before travel.
Local tip: phone 061 364483 before loading bulky or uncertain items. It is quicker to ask first than to unload, reload and drive back 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, packed upright, with no sludges.
Keep children safe
Children must be supervised at recycling centres. If supervision is not possible, they must remain in the vehicle.
Bring payment
Expect a vehicle-based charge for recyclable visits, even though some household items are free.
Easy loading trick: place free WEEE/batteries/textiles in one section of the boot and chargeable recyclables in another. It makes gate conversation and unloading faster.
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, retailer take-back or licensed waste 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. | Plug/battery items often 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: managing special waste safely
Shannon is listed for free electrical/batteries drop-off and lightbulb drop-off, and its official page gives paint rules. This MyWaste video is useful context for special-waste thinking, but Clare County Council remains the live source for Shannon’s accepted items and charges.
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Common Shannon Recycling Centre Questions Answered Properly
Most people searching for this page need a practical answer: 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 need opening hours
Check the hours table and remember Monday/Sunday closed, Tuesday–Friday 10–5, Saturday 9–3.
If you need charges
Use the vehicle charge table. A normal car visit is listed at €6 and a light van at €14.
If you need accepted items
Use the accepted-items table and call first if your item is not clearly 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 earlier 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 recycling centres. If that is not possible, they must remain in the vehicle.
Official and Helpful Links Used in This Guide
Final takeaway: Shannon Recycling Centre is best used for listed household recyclables and free household WEEE, battery and textile items. Check hours before travelling, sort your load before leaving home, and call 061 364483 if your item is not clearly listed.