Environment Services

In general Galway City Council is only permitted to remove vehicles from public property. The City Council will not enter private property to remove a vehicle, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Local authorities may collect bulky goods such as large electrical items or furniture from households for disposal.

Local authorities regulate the disposal and recycling of construction and demolition waste such as soil, rubble, bricks, timber and plaster.

An End of Life Vehicle is an old car or van weighing no more than 3,500kgs or a three-wheel motor vehicle, which you feel, is no longer safe to keep driving and you wish to dispose of. It may also be a car or van that has been written off by an insurance firm following a car accident.

Local authorities regulate domestic food waste disposal to ensure the waste is suitable for composting.

Local authorities may arrange collection of household hazardous waste at designated sites.

Please note the following information is intended only for Galway City householders. If you live outside the Galway City boundary please contact the relevant Local Authority.

Local authorities regulate the disposal of packaging waste by businesses.

Illegal Dumping in our city, as well as being unsightly, causes significant harm to the environment and to wildlife.  It is also a potential fire hazard and risk to public health. 

The National Waste Collection Office in Offaly County Council issues waste collection permits to approved collectors or transporters of waste.

What rights do I have in relation to accessing information on the Environment?
You have the right to obtain certain environmental information from a public authority, such as a local authority.

This right to access Environmental information comes from Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament, and the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007 - 2011

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All public parks and open spaces within housing estate, that have been taken in charge by Galway City Council, are maintained by the Recreation & Amenity section of Galway City Council.

The Amenity Grant Scheme funding is available to support Resident Associations, Community Gardens and Allotment Schemes wishing to undertake Environmental type community initiatives which contribute towards the betterment of their local Environment.

Local authorities may provide bring centres where you can recycle small household items such as glass, plastic, food and beverage cans and textiles.

The Galway City Council Recycling Centre provides a facility for residential customers of Galway City to bring and dispose of unwanted household or electrical items free of charge.

The centre is for Galway City residential customers only. Commercial use is strictly prohibited.

Local authorities regulate the disposal, recovery and recycling of consumer electrical goods, electrical appliances and batteries.

You must apply for licence to the local authority if you are a casual trader and you want to sell goods in a public place or designated trading area.

Galway City Council has two cemeteries: The New Cemetery/Bohermore Cemetery and Mount St. Joseph Cemetery.

Throughout the year community and business groups, residents’ associations, colleges, and schools help with keeping our beautiful City tidy by engaging in community clean ups.

The definition of litter is quite wide and extends beyond casual pieces of paper or cigarette ends to anything large or small, which is or is likely to become, unsightly.

You must pay a litter fine to the local authority.

You must apply to the local authority for a permit to use temporary signage to advertise events.

The Tidy Towns competition is a national competition organised by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Local authorities may provide financial support to community groups, schools and environmental non governmental organisations to carry out small environmental projects to promote sustainable development.

Galway City Council seeks to promote responsible dog ownership - the basis of which is licensing and control of dogs.

Green your Festival is an initiative of participating local authorities in Ireland's Local Authority Prevention Network (LAPN), including Galway City Council.

Local authorities work with schools to raise awareness of how to protect the environment.

As part of an exciting and collaborative new project, Galway City Council is partnering with local residents and young people in a number of local areas to ‘green’ city laneways and transform them into vibrant, playful and nature-friendly spaces for all of the community to enjoy.

Galway City Council runs an annual Spaces for Biodiversity Competition. The competition, which has been running since 1961 as the Galway City Garden competition, has been revamped in 2024.

Local authorities may investigate complaints about excessive noise.

Pride of Place is an all-island competition which is directed towards recognising improvements by local communities to create civic pride in their area.

Local authorities may provide and maintain public toilets and cities, towns, harbours and coastal areas.

The Solvents Directive has made the following regulations which govern the operation of businesses which use solvents or solvent-containing materials, principally dry cleaners and vehicle refinishers...