If there’s one thing we’ve all learned over the years, it’s this: Christmas may be the season of joy, but it’s also the season of stuff. Boxes, batteries, the wrapping paper that the dog ate, the decorations that didn’t survive another year, and the unmistakable January discovery — a mattress that’s been leaning behind the shed since last spring.
Luckily, Oranmore has its own little elves working all year round at the Oranmore Recycling Centre, ready to help you clear the decks before (and after! ) the festivities. Whether you’re dropping in with cardboard from a gift-wrapping marathon, the Christmas tree that gave up early, or the mysterious mix of plastics and packaging that seems to multiply under the stairs, the team has a place for it.
In fact, there’s very little you can’t bring. The centre accepts cardboard, timber, green waste, mattresses, metals, WEEE (anything with a plug or a battery — from fairy lights to old toasters ), glass, paint, textiles, soft plastics, food and garden waste, and even those batteries that escaped from last year’s toys. If you’ve done a “New Year, New Me” clear-out, the centre can take your old small appliances, computers, monitors, and the chargers that definitely don’t fit anything you own anymore.
What you might not know is that the Oranmore site is growing. In recent months it has expanded its sorting capabilities, added new materials streams (including mattress recycling and secure shredding for paperwork ), and is gearing up for further improvements in 2026.
“Our goal is simple: make recycling easier, quicker, and more accessible for households and local businesses,” said David O’Hanlon, Centre Manager
“The team is proud to play its part in supporting a greener Galway — and even prouder when locals arrive with a car boot full of “I wasn’t sure you took this, but I thought I’d try!”
So as you’re packing up the celebrations, remember that your local recycling centre is open throughout the holiday period with adjusted Christmas hours (see below ).
The staff promise friendly help, tidy bays, and a guilt-free place to offload the evidence of festive overindulgence.
Because in Oranmore, we don’t just recycle — we make the season a little brighter in the process.
