Farmers can dispose of hazardous wastes, such as engine oils and filters, residues of pesticides, herbicides and out of date veterinary medicines, at ten collection events run by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from Friday. Some 2,000 farmers are expected to participate in the campaign, by clearing sheds of out-of-date chemicals and other hard-to-manage waste.

The dates and locations for this year’s hazardous waste collections are as follows:

Click here for PDF of dates and locations

  • Collection centres will open from 9.30am to 3.30pm.
  • The initiative is led by the EPA, working with a cross-government team which includes Teagas, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, and local authorities.

    “Given the environmental and public health risk posed by these chemicals and oily wastes, it is important to provide responsible and practical disposal options for farmers,” EPA deputy director general Dara Lynott said.

    “ The level of support and engagement shown by the farming community for these collection events in recent years has been most welcome.”

    By the end of this year, the farm hazardous waste campaign will have operated at least once in every county in Ireland.

    Since 2013, the EPA has run 26 collection events, with 5,000 farmers voluntarily disposing of 163t of hazardous wastes (such as pesticides, veterinary medicines, paints, oil filters), 275t of waste oils and 158t of electrical equipment and batteries.