Barna’s Moving Day Tips: Disposing of Rubbish When Moving In/Out of Your Student Accommodation

As the summer holidays draw to an end this August, students are getting ready to head back to college and university. At Barna Recycling, we know that moving into rented student accommodation can be a tough task when faced with the disposing of old books, electronic waste disposal and other bulky items from previous years, which are no longer of use to you as you begin the new academic year, modules and subjects. When students break for summer, they often bring back unnecessary items and waste that will never be used again. It’s advisable to do a complete clear-out of your student accommodation before moving out day and before breaking for the summer season. If you did not tackle this task at the time, we definitely recommend sorting through the waste that you brought home at the end of the precious academic year before your upcoming ‘student moving in day’ to avoid more waste accumulation.

We understand that disposing of rubbish can be confusing, especially for a student who is unsure of the correct disposal methods. To be sure you are disposing of exam papers, disposing of study notes you no longer need and disposing of old books correctly can be daunting. 

To make your next moving day hassle-free, we have compiled some top tips for students and parents. Barna’s moving day tips will not only help you dispose of your waste properly, but they will also make the process quicker and more efficient, ensuring that you are disposing of rubbish in an eco-friendly, stress-free manner.

What Moving Day Tips can I Refer to When Disposing of my Rubbish?

When clearing out your rubbish in preparation for moving day, it is difficult to know which waste items would go into your waste bins and what shouldn’t. Ensure you are only moving essential items into your student accommodation so that the task of moving out is made much easier months down the line. Check out our valuable tips for students and parents.

Barna’s Moving Day Tips For Students

Disposing of Clothes, Bedding & Mattresses: Any type of old clothing, footwear, textiles (including blankets in unusable condition) can be brought to your local civic amenity sites to be disposed of at a reduced rate. Alternatively, clothes that you no longer want but are still in usable condition, can be given to siblings and friends, brought to a charity shop, or brought to your nearest clothes bank… but do not ‘store’ them in your student accommodation – if you will not be wearing them, dispose of them!

Electronic Waste Disposal: Electrical waste, more commonly known as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) may include unwanted items such as computers, monitors, mobile phones, game consoles, speakers, headphones… the list goes on for students! Thanks to the ease of access to local civic amenity sites, electronic waste disposal has never been made easier, and you can locate your nearest site HERE.

Disposing of old books & papers: If you have old college books in good condition, you can donate them to the college library or request the student’s union to sell them on your behalf. Alternatively, you can pass them on to someone who has signed up to do the same course/subject in the upcoming academic year. If the books can’t be reused, you can dispose of old books in your household recycling bin. For large volumes that cannot be reused, you can also dispose of old books & papers at your local civic amenity site, as recommended by MyWaste (2024).

Disposing of Old Books: When to Keep Them, When To Let Go

At the beginning of an academic year, you may be struggling to decide what books, papers and notes you should keep for the future, and which of these will no longer serve you purpose. Check out the diagram below from Life With Less Mess to help you understand if disposing of old books & papers is the best next course of action to take.

Moving Day Tips: How Parents Can Help?

Mum or dad – If you are charged with helping your child clear out their waste before beginning a new academic year and moving into their student accommodation on moving day, get ready to practise patience. You both share a common goal when tackling the moving day process…that is for it to be as stress-free as possible! Here’s some of Barna’s Moving day tips to ensure the move is made as easy and as eco-friendly as possible.

• Facilitate Decisions: Help them to decide what items they want to keep and what needs to be thrown out (referring back to the Life With Less Mess diagram above will be helpful).
• Separating Rubbish: Have a rubbish bag prepared for general waste and one for recycling.
• Get Strict: Clarify what your child wants to do with the bulky items first. Are they being dumped or recycled? Bulky items may include bed clothes, stereos, kettles and any other items that would otherwise take up lots of car space and/or space in the family home. This is the time to get strict!
• Think Green: Encourage your child to recycle or sell on any old books, notes, clothes, electronics or other useful items before the moving in date.
• Ask The Questions: Many charities often partner with colleges and universities to establish collection points or van pickups, so be sure to put on your parent cap and enquire about such services before beginning the moving day process.

Take Advantage of Your Local Civic Amenity Site for Electronic Waste Disposal and Other Bulky Waste

Barna Recycling’s purpose-built Civic Amenity Sites will assist you greatly when moving out of your family home and into your student home. We have seven civic amenity sites across Connacht for your convenience, where you can dispose of a large variety of non-hazardous and recyclable household waste at a reduced cost. Visit our website to find out where your nearest recycling centres might be located. Our civic amenity sites may be just what you are looking for if you are a student moving out of your family home and into new student accommodation, getting ready for the disposing of old books or wondering how you are going to manage your bulky electronic waste disposal.

 Here are some of the benefits of using one of our civic amenity sites:

• They are cost-effective and cheap to use.
• Accept a wide range of items, including hazardous materials.
• They are clean, local, and easily accessible.
• Open on weekends to make them more accessible to all.
• They are well laid out and marked for each waste material.
• Cater for small and large deliveries in the exact location.
• Provide WEEE and Glass Bottle services free of charge.
• Cater for small and large deliveries in the exact location.

The items accepted will vary for each of our civic amenity sites. Please be sure to call us in advance or check our website for the complete list of items accepted at your nearest centre. The charges for the items you bring to the respective civic amenity centre will be based on the type of vehicle you have, not the quantity or weight of the waste items themselves.

Still Worrying About Waste Disposal on ‘Moving Day’?

Our Barna Recycling team are always on hand at our civic amenity sites to greet you on arrival, assist you with drop-offs, and provide you with advice and information about recycling and waste disposal. 

Alternatively, you can choose to hire a skip, which also makes the disposing of rubbish much quicker and easier. At Barna Recycling, we have skips of all sizes for all purposes, so you can be sure we will have one to suit your needs and requirements – have a look at our helpful skip sizing guide here for more information.

Don’t let unnecessary waste and clutter bog you down during your new move. Let us help you make your moving day a breeze with our expert advice and guidance so that commencing your new academic year feels clean and green. If you would like more information on where to dispose of certain items or order a skip, give us a call today on 091 771619.

Best Ways to Get Rid of Garden Waste in Ireland (Everything You Need to Know)

Summer is here, and it’s the perfect time to tidy up your garden and outdoor spaces. Ireland is currently experiencing a prolonged period of warm weather, with temperatures reaching up to 25°C in some areas. This “mini-heatwave,” as described by Met Éireann, is expected to last for a good few days, bringing sunny conditions and minimal rainfall.

This extended dry spell has implications for garden maintenance and waste disposal. Gardeners are advised to conserve water due to very low soil moisture levels, which could affect plant health. Additionally, the dry conditions increase the risk of fires, making it crucial to dispose of garden waste responsibly and avoid burning debris. So, whether you’re trimming hedges, mowing the lawn, or clearing out dead plants, knowing how to dispose of garden waste responsibly is key.

With the warm weather encouraging outdoor activities, it’s an ideal time to address garden waste. In this guide, we’ll explain the best ways to get rid of garden waste in Ireland, from where to recycle it to whether you can use your black bin for garden waste. A clean, organised garden not only looks great but also enhances your outdoor enjoyment.

Read on to discover how to manage your garden waste sustainably while keeping your outdoor space tidy and eco-friendly.

What is ‘Green’ Garden Waste?

The term “green” garden waste refers to organic materials generated from routine maintenance activities. Proper garden waste management is not only necessary for a well-kept landscape, but it’s also a contributor to environmental sustainability. ‘Green’ garden waste is biodegradable, which means that it can be broken down by natural processes, and consists of:

• Plant trimmings and pruning
• Lawn clippings
• Leaves and twigs
• Flower cuttings and deadheads
• Vegetable and fruit scraps

Recycling garden waste in the right way provides numerous benefits, including:

1. Producing compost, a valuable fertiliser for your garden.
2. Reducing disposal costs while creating useful products.
3. Minimising waste that would otherwise be sent to landfill.

However, some items need special disposal methods as they can’t be composted or recycled in the same way:

• Stones or gravel
• Concrete
• Dirt or rocks
• Animal waste
• Treated or painted wood
• Glass
• Metal
• Soil

Best Ways to Get Rid of Each Type of Garden Waste

Green Garden Waste Disposal and Where to Recycle Garden Waste

Understanding and effectively managing green garden waste is crucial for maintaining a healthy garden and promoting environmental sustainability. If you’re looking to manage your green garden waste effectively, there are several options available:

• Composting at home is one of the best ways to get rid of garden waste. By composting at home, you can transform organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, perfect for your garden. Here is a helpful guide to get you started on composting.
• Grass Recycling. When mowing your lawn, you can leave the grass clippings on the ground to decompose naturally. Once on the ground, these break down quickly, returning nutrients like nitrogen back to the soil.
• Brown Bin. In most areas of Ireland, green garden waste can be placed in your brown bin for collection. Check our guide to organic waste management for more details on what can go in your brown bin.
• Civic Amenity Sites. Alternatively, you can bring large volumes of your green garden waste to our Ballinasloe, Carrowbrowne and Cartrontroy Athlone recycling centres.

Garden Chemicals & Liquids Waste Clearance

Garden chemicals and liquid waste include weed killers, petrol/fuel for your lawnmower, pesticides and herbicides, fertilisers, and some plant foods. It is essential to store and dispose of these items correctly since some can be hazardous and harmful to the environment. Always follow the instructions on the product label. Here are some key tips:

• Always try to use Garden Chemicals in full as opposed to having to dispose of leftovers. Be sure to get in-store advice on how much you need beforehand so that you are only buying as much as you need and not overstocking/overusing.
• While purchasing these items, consider the recyclability of the packaging and see if environmentally friendly alternatives are available.
• When storing these items, be sure to retain all original packaging and labelling, so you are aware of any expiry or use-by dates. This will assist in disposing of the item correctly.
• ALWAYS remember that liquids of any kind should NOT be included in your general waste bin.
• ALWAYS remember NOT to mix chemicals for disposal under any circumstances, no matter how small the quantity. This can lead to the emission of toxic gases, which can be highly lethal and could lead to hospitalisation.
• Alternatively, you can also check with your local civic amenity sites to see if they accept chemical items as part of their hazardous waste services. Please be sure to check our website for the complete list of items accepted at your nearest centre.
• If the civic amenity site cannot take the item, contact a specialist hazardous waste company that may collect the item from you directly.

Note: Always avoid putting garden chemicals in your general waste bin.

Disposal of Old Garden Furniture and Swing Sets

If you have old garden furniture or a swing set, there are a couple of disposal options available:

• Reuse or Donate: If the furniture is in good condition, consider selling or donating it to charity shops.
• Recycle at Civic Amenity Sites: Many civic amenity sites accept wood, metal, and plastic furniture, recycling them responsibly.

Check out Barna Recycling’s list of civic amenity sites here.

Why Hiring a Garden Waste Skip Is a Great Option

When clearing large volumes of garden waste or undertaking significant garden renovations, renting a garden waste skip might be your best option. A garden waste skip will allow you to dispose of waste quickly and efficiently without having to make multiple trips to a recycling centre.

At Barna Recycling, we offer a variety of skip sizes to suit your needs. Whether you’re clearing debris, hedge trimmings, or soil, we’ve got you covered. For more information, call our skip team on 091-771619 or visit our website to book your skip today.

Say Goodbye to Clutter with Barna Recycling

Recycling garden waste materials promotes sustainability and reduces landfill waste. Utilising Barna Recycling’s civic amenity sites and applying our top tips on the best ways to get rid of garden waste can ensure responsible waste management while promoting environmental stewardship and maintaining the beauty of your outdoor space.

Join Barna Recycling today to start managing your waste the eco-friendly way!

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Top 7 Tips On How To Reduce, Reuse And Recycle At Home After The Holiday Season

The holiday season is the most awaited time of the year when we can relax, rest, and enjoy family time. However, during this period, waste volumes increase due to more grocery shopping, the giving and receiving of gifts, decorations and more. Thinking of how we can be more sustainable in 2023, we have highlighted top seven tips on reducing, reusing and recycling the holidays’ waste at home.

1. Household Bins

Ensure you maximise the space in your bins by breaking down waste before you put it in. This is especially important for the recycling bin. Cardboard boxes and packaging can quickly take up a lot of space, so be sure to break down bulkier items. Remember that overflowing bins or items left out beside your bins may not be taken away.

As a safety precaution, we always advise our customers not to leave boxes of expensive items, such as new TVs or game consoles beside their bins as this may encourage theft. If you do not have space for such boxes, bring them to your local civic amenity site, or store them in a shed or garage until you have sufficient room to put them in your bin.

If your bin is overflowing well in advance of your collection day, call the Barna Customer Care Team on 091 771619 to discuss your options. 

2. Christmas Trees

Real Christmas trees can easily be recycled or shredded into chippings and used in parkland areas. Artificial Christmas trees cannot be recycled but can be reused and donated to family, friends, or a local charity shop. If these are not possible, you can bring your artificial Christmas trees to a civic amenity site to dispose of. Find your nearest civic amenity site here.

An artificial Christmas tree is seen as a bulky waste item. It can be brought to your local civic amenity site (except our civic amenity site in Clifden) to be disposed of. Our civic amenity sites will also accept real Christmas trees. Find out more ways on how you can recycle or replant your Christmas tree.

A cool fact to know is that if a household reuses a plastic tree for up to five years, it’s carbon footprint will be smaller than a household that buys a real tree every year.

3. Decorations & Baubles

When taking down your decorations, some items may be broken and need to be disposed of. Often items that are deemed to be single-use items can be used again, so before you dispose of everything, take a minute to think if this could be used again next year. It is best to sort through your decorations as you are taking them down. Please note that any electrical items that contain a battery must also have the batteries removed before being disposed of or for safety reasons.

Items such as tinsel that can’t be used again can be placed in the general waste bin. Fresh wreaths can be put into your compost bin once you take off any non-compostable materials. Broken glass baubles need to be brought to the bottle bank, and lights and electrical appliances that no longer work can be brought to a WEE disposal site. Any decorations wholly made of metal should be brought to your local civic amenity site.

4. Holidays Cards

It is safe to place the holiday cards you received in your home recycling bin. These may not be recyclable if the card contains glitter or any bulky designs. Any plastic, paper or cardboard design materials are recyclable. Still, if it contains excess glitter, ribbons or homemade cards that contain glue, these cards must go in the general waste bin.

5. Wrapping Paper

The most important thing to note is that not all wrapping paper is recyclable. Any wrapping paper containing glitter, foil, or tape will have to go in the waste bin. The ribbon also goes in your general waste bin – or you can save it and reuse it again for wrapping presents next year.

Try and save any reusable pieces of wrapping paper and store them safely for next year. Save any gift bags that can be used again next year too. But be sure to take off any name tags from the bag!

6. Toys

Plastic toys can be brought to the civic amenity site. If the toys are in good condition, they can be brought to your local charity shop or donated to family and friends.

7. Batteries and Chargers

Batteries are still important for controllers and children’s toys. However, they cannot be disposed of at home. You must bring them back to where they were purchased or to a civic amenity site. Electrical items such as chargers also need to be disposed of correctly. They need to be returned to where they were purchased or brought to a WEEE drop-off recycling point or your local Civic Amenity Site to be disposed of. Click here for more information on how to dispose of WEEE the right way.

Lower Your Costs With Waste Management In 2023

Barna is Connacht’s leading provider of waste management services, providing a professional, reliable and environmentally friendly service. Join Ireland’s number one environmentally friendly waste collection provider and enjoy the peace of mind that we will recycle what you throw away.

Clothes Recycling: 5 Tips To Repurpose And Dispose Of Old Textiles

Textile and clothes recycling is not always on people’s sustainability radar. But now that you’ve managed to create a low-waste, eco-friendly bathroom, it’s time to finally get around to reorganising your bedroom to recycle & repurpose your used clothing, old mattresses & duvets.

Here at Barna Recycling we often find our customers wondering what to do with clothes that are old or no longer fit and textiles that have already seen their share of wear & tear. But don’t worry, we got you covered. There are plenty of sustainable solutions for repurposing, disposing, and recycling clothes and other old textiles, which we have outlined below. 

5 Tips For Clothes Recycling And Disposal

1. Shopping Smart  

Firstly, it’s important to understand that the textile industry is the second largest contributor to global pollution (Source: mywaste.ie) Every piece of clothing you wear, or use has gone through a complex manufacturing process that uses a high amount of electricity, water, and other energy sources.

Unwanted textiles and clothes recycling & upcycling save energy by reducing or eliminating the need to make materials from scratch. Before you purchase a new piece of clothing, shoes etc, always think do I need it and will I wear it. 

 2. Pass/Swap/Hand Them Down 

Before you decide to dispose of or recycle the clothes and textiles that you no longer use or wear, consider passing them on to a friend or a family member if they might be interested in them. Remember to be honest about any damage and wash the clothes before you pass them along. There are also several online platforms that allow you to swap or re-sell your clothing, such as Facebook Marketplace & Depop to name just a few options available. 

Alternatively, you can also see if those closest to you are up for swapping a few items. Invite them over for a few drinks and get the party started. This way you are recycling clothes by giving them a new life & everyone goes home happy with some new pieces they can add to their wardrobe for free!  

 3. Donate To Charity

You can also donate clothes & textiles in good condition to local charity shops as there are often non-profits and charities that would be extremely grateful for your donation. Over 10 million garments per annum are handled via charity or second-hand shops. Using charity shops often means the sales from the clothing benefit causes in your local area or community.

Some organisations accepting clothing donations are Enable Ireland, Oxfam, NCBI, Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) and Liberty Recycling. The Irish Charity Shops Association website will help you to find your nearest charity shops & clothing banks near you. 

4. Transform & Upcycle – An Alternative Way of Clothes Recycling

You can transform clothes that are damaged, stained/have holes into new items such as face masks, tablecloths, cleaning cloths, blankets, padding for chairs, bags, t-shirts and so much more! Interested in alternative ways of clothes recycling? All it takes is a little creativity and vision. You can check out Pinterest or some DIY YouTube videos for inspiration. 

5. Civic Amenity Sites

If you feel you cannot do any of the above with large volumes of old textiles, you can always bring them to your local civic amenity site or clothing banks near you. Some of our civic amenity sites will also accept any type of clothing, footwear, textiles, including blankets at selected civic amenity sites. However, an extra charge would apply for disposing of bedding and mattresses. By disposing of your clothing & textile items correctly you are playing your part in making for a cleaner, greener environment.   

How Is The Process For Old Textiles & Clothes Recycling? 

• After your clothes are collected from the various points the first step to clothes recycling is to segregate them into wearable and unwearable, or usable and unusable products. In most cases washing facilities are used to prepare the clothes for re-use of re-sale. 
• Once the textiles are properly sorted, they are then pulled into fibres or shredded, which results in yarn. Depending on the end use of the yarn, other fibres may be added into the mix. It then is re-spun so that it can be reused, either by being knitted or woven. 
• Any fibre that cannot be spun into yards is compressed into filling, such as insulation or textile filling inside of mattresses. 
• If you’re recycling polyester-based textiles, these are granulated into polyester chips. The chips are then melted so that they can create new fibres for new polyester textiles. 
• In recent years the most popular method of re-using clothes is charity shops or re-se second chance shops 

Top Barna Textiles & Clothes Recycling Tips: 

• The big advantage of charity shops is not only are the clothes re-used and not treated as waste, and it also helps provide financial assistance to a particular charity. 
• If dropping your unwanted clothes to a charity shop, familiarise yourself with other items they make take for upcycling or re-selling such as household goods, books, electrical items etc not all if these shops are dedicated only to clothes. 
• When dropping off clothes always have a look at what’s for re-sale and help the charity by purchasing something on the same journey. 
• Bedclothes, duvets are not always accepted by all charities check in advance of travelling. 
• It’s important to point out clothes that are heavily soiled or damaged can still be taken in some banks and this should be checked in advance. 
• Old clothing not able for re-use can still be put to good use by being shredded and re-used for things such as furniture stuffing.  

Now that you know there are plenty of sustainable options for old textile and clothes recycling and disposal, how about sharing these tips with your friends and family?

Barna Recycling’s Top Tips to Disposing Bulky Waste Items

We all have those large items in our house that always tend to take up too much space, yet we never get around to disposing them because are unsure how. These large waste items can be classified as “Bulky Waste”, as they are items that cannot fit in your general waste bins (example: furniture, bedding). We often get asked by customers what to do with these bulky waste items.

Below we have outlined some of our top tips to help you dispose of bulky waste efficiently and effectively.

First, let’s have a look at some of the common bulky waste items:

• Couches
• Chairs
• Tables
• Mattress – Did you know? Around eighty per cent (80%) of most mattress’ components can be recycled.
• Old furniture such as wardrobes, bed frames
• Large household appliances (fridges, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers)
• TV

Donate To Charity

Before you dispose of your bulky waste in the trash, if it’s in a good condition you could always donate it to a local charity. There are several charities around the country that are willing to collect old but clean and functional furniture from your home and bring it to those in need. The Irish Charity Shops Association website will help you to find the nearest charity shops near you. Be sure to check in advance if the charity shop accepts furniture and large items.

Why not try upcycling?

If you’re still in love with your old furniture and want to get the maximum use out of it, you could always try to upcycle them where possible to create something entirely new. It is also a nice way to spend your weekends, by getting your creative juices flowing. And chances are you could end up creating something spectacular that you can advertise to sell and make some money. Need some more convincing? Check out MyWaste.ie’s video content around upcycling and selling items – Click Here

Civic Amenity Sites

If your bulky item has seen the end of its useable life, and you feel you cannot do any of the above, you can always bring them to your local civic amenity site near you. However, an extra charge would apply for disposing of bedding and mattresses.

A member of the Barna Recycling team will meet you on arrival at the civic amenity site, to identify the contents you want to dispose of. Our experienced and helpful staff will advise you and direct you towards where the materials should be put on site.

On some days and at some sites there are people to help you with the unloading of materials, but this isn’t always the case. If you need help you can always give us a ring to let us know in advance, and a member of our team will be happy to assist you.

Don’t forget we also accept the below free of charge – Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) For more info on how to correctly dispose of WEEE click here

Get the most out of your visit to our civic amenity sites by planning ahead. To see more information about our Civic Amenity Sites please CLICK HERE

Barna Recycling’s Guide to Household Waste Disposal

The first quarter of the year is the ideal time to start practising new habits when it comes to waste disposal, which we hope you will add to your list of new year resolutions!

And if like us you want to maintain a structured household waste disposal system that is easy to follow, you might be unsure where to start. But you would be delighted to know simple changes to your shopping and waste management habits is all it takes to be more sustainable.

Below we have outlined some of our top tips to make household waste disposal more sustainable for you in 2022:

Food Waste:

Firstly, let’s have a look at some top tips to keep in mind when it comes to Food Waste:

• Keep an organic/food bin in your kitchen to toss all your vegetable peels, leftover seeds, eggshells, etc., while you are cooking.
• Be sure to store your fruits and vegetables correctly and use your freezer to reduce wastage and get the most out of your fresh food.
• As much as possible, try not to toss out any leftover food in good condition. You can always store it in the fridge and reheat it again for lunch the next day.
• Plan your meals – Creating a meal plan for the week and meal prepping in advance can help you save time and get the most out of your produce.
• Home Composting is also an excellent way to get the most out of your organic food as well as your green garden waste. Click here to check out our helpful guide on composting to get started!

Shopping:

• Be sure to check your fridge and cupboards in advance and make a list of all the items that you need before heading to the supermarket for your weekly or monthly grocery haul beforehand. Sticking to a list will ensure you are effectively managing waste by reducing consumption and buying less.
• Always opt FOR reusable shopping bags to limit plastic waste. Be sure to keep reusable bags in your car or close to the front door or someplace to remind you to take it with you.
• Likewise, avoid using small plastic bags when picking up fresh fruits or vegetables. Some supermarkets also provide sustainable options that are good for the environment.
• When it comes to toiletries, cosmetics or household items opt for products that come with sustainable or biodegradable packaging materials that can be reused or recycled easily. With boxes or bubble wrap, it is always a clever idea to re-use them where possible.

Here at Barna, we find that there is always some confusion around which bin packaging items should go in. Check out our blog on correctly disposing of different types of packaging waste.

Announcement: Barna Recycling Household Mobile App Update 2022

The Barna Recycling team is happy to announce the launch of our newly updated household customer mobile app, with a range of new features and improved functionalities to make your life easier.

Android users:

• Simply uninstall the existing Barna Recycling App on your phone.
• Once that’s done search for Barna Recycling in the App Store and install the latest version.

iPhone users however should notice an automatic update of their existing app to the latest version.

If you have large volumes of waste that cannot fit into your household bins, you can drop them off at one of our seven local civic amenity sites across Connacht to dispose of them at a reduced cost. Visit our website to find out where your nearest recycling centres might be located. If you have any questions on skip hire, do not hesitate to contact a member of our skip hire team on 091 771619. Also, check out our helpful skip sizing guide here.

Barna Recycling’s Guide To Recycling In 2022

Happy New Year!! It’s that time of year again when we have to say goodbye to our beloved Christmas Tree & decorations. While some people are putting this task off until the very last minute, most of us are inclined to remove our Christmas decorations before they become a nuisance.

At Barna Recycling, we understand a post-Christmas clear out in the new year, especially while we are all still recovering from the holiday season & settling back into our daily routines. We hope to simplify things for you by outlining some of our top tips on managing and recycling your Christmas waste correctly.

1. Christmas Trees

Barna Recycling would advise all of our customers to dispose of their trees in a responsible and effective manner. No one likes to see a sad Christmas tree on the side of the road. The good news is that real Christmas trees can easily be recycled, replanted or shredded into chippings and used in parkland areas. On the other hand, Artificial Christmas trees cannot be recycled but reused and donated to family, friends, or a local charity shop. If any of these are not possible, you can also bring your artificial Christmas trees to a civic amenity site to dispose of.

Find out more ways to dispose of your Christmas tree here.

2. Baubles

Glass and metal baubles can be brought to your local civic amenity site. Glass baubles can also be disposed of in the glass bottle recycling bank. Plastic baubles which are hung on your Christmas tree need to be placed in the waste bin as this type of plastic cannot be recycled. It is also important to remember that baubles are not made for one-time use, so try to reuse them as much as possible. You can get large storage boxes with lids that will keep the baubles safe and you can keep them safely stacked on top of one another.

3. Christmas Lights

Unusable or broken Christmas lights must be brought to the civic amenity site as they are not suitable for recycling. If you are purchasing new lights, the retailer may take the old lights for you, depending on where you are shopping.

4. Christmas decorations

Tinsel and ribbons can only be disposed of in the general waste bin as they are not suitable for recycling. Again, you don’t need to dispose them off every year. They can be stored neatly in storage boxes in the attic and reused every year.

5. Christmas Cards

You can place Christmas cards directly in the household recycling (blue) Barna bin. Going forward, you could also consider sending Christmas cards with a family photo, which is more personal and will likely be kept rather than thrown away.

6. Christmas Wreaths

The Christmas wreath you hang on your door must be taken apart before it can be disposed of. Compostable material can be added to your compost bin. The remaining material needs to be dried out and then placed in your waste bin.

7. Wrapping paper

All wrapping paper is 100% recyclable so don’t be afraid to place this in your recycling bin once all the presents are opened.

8. Batteries & Electrical items

Batteries cannot be disposed of in any of your household bins. You must bring them back to where you purchased them or to a civic amenity site. Alternatively, some supermarkets like Aldi allow customers to dispose of their used batteries directly in some of their stores. Electrical items such as chargers also need to be disposed of correctly. They need to be returned to where you purchased them or should be brought to a designated WEEE drop-off recycling point or your local Civic Amenity Site to be disposed of. Click here for more information on how to dispose of WEEE the right way.

9. Food Waste

Along with everything else that goes with Christmas, you must also manage the excess food waste and cooking equipment. Aluminium cooking trays can only be disposed of in your waste bin. Thankfully, many food and nutrition companies are more aware of the importance of recycling and have changed their packaging to be completely recyclable. Make sure to check this on the packaging before getting rid of it to ensure it is disposed of correctly.

You must also wash containers such as milk cartons before placing them in the recycling bin to ensure no residue is left in them. Food Hampers & gifts such as cheese, nuts, jams, pasta, biscuits & chocolates usually have a long shelf life; therefore can be stored and consumed over a period of time. Leftover food from Christmas dinner can be stored away correctly and reused the next day. The remainder of the food can be used as compost. Unused fruits, vegetables, potato peels, tea bags, coffee grounds, eggshells and flowers can all be added to your compost heap. You can also place these items in your brown Barna bin so that it is collected, processed and made into compost. This is then used as a fertilizer for farming.

For more information about food waste management, check out our blog here.

The Barna Recycling team would like to take this opportunity to wish all our valued customers a happy & prosperous New Year!

Top Tips To Declutter Your Home Before The Holidays

Its finally the holiday season! We all love the holidays and getting into the festive spirit, as it means we can finally begin to relax and spend time with our family & loved ones. But there is no denying it can also be the most busiest and chaotic time of the year! This season is usually the time when more waste is produced, and if you are like us you want to make sure your house is clutter-free for the holiday season.

Below we have outlined some of our top tips to follow for a stress-free festive season!

Christmas Lights & Decorations:

• If you have old Christmas lights in unusable condition you can bring them to your local civic amenity site or if you are purchasing replacement lights, the retailer should be happy to take the old ones off your hands.
• As for old Christmas decorations tinsel and plastic baubles; these are waste items, so they can go in your waste bin. Glass baubles can be brought to local bottle banks or civic amenity sites.
• Any old decorations made from a single material such as paper, card or rigid plastic only can be placed in the recycling bin.
• If a decoration is powered by a battery or has any sort of plug, be sure to remove battery separately for recycling, it is considered a WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) item and should be disposed of in a proper manner. (Source: mywaste.ie)
• This should be brought to a WEEE drop-off recycling point or your local Civic Amenity Site to be disposed of. Click here for more information on how to dispose of WEEE the right way

Christmas Shopping & Deliveries

• Cardboard Boxes: This can be disposed of in your recycling bin, however, ensure you remove as much packaging tape as you can first and break them down before you dispose them.
•  Soft packaging such as wrappers, plastic bags and bubble wrap have been added to the household recycling list earlier this year. Re-use boxes & bubble wrap where possible, if not usable then throw them into your recycling bin.
• Polystyrene foam can ONLY be recycled when separately collected, some civic amenity centres may accept it but be sure to check locally before you arrive. Otherwise, it should always be placed in the general waste bin.
• Be sure to check your recycling/general waste bins for any packages from time to time. Although unlikely some courier delivery drivers have been known to leave packages in the bins when there’s nobody is in the house at the time of delivery.

Christmas Cards & Gifts

It can often be a good idea to have a plan in place on how you and your family will handle Christmas waste. It’s important to understand what to do when Christmas cards, gifts and your online shopping start arriving. Below are some tips to dispose them off correctly:

• If you happen to receive Christmas cards by post, or if you have old/unusable Christmas cards, you can cut them up and use them to make labels for presents. Alternatively, it’s good to know that these can go in your recycling bin.
• Try to reuse envelopes by sticking labels over the address or you can simply dispose it in the recycling bin if it is unusable.
• A lot of common Christmas items such as wrapping paper and old Christmas lights can be brought to your local civic amenity sites or put in your recycling bin.
• When receiving gifts be sure to take off any Sellotape before putting the gift wrapper in the recycling bin.
• When you receive gift bags, try to re-use them as much as possible

Barna Recycling’s Top Tips for Christmas Upcycling:

At Barna Recycling, we actively encourage our customers to upcycle and reuse items where possible as it’s better for the environment, saves money and resources. Below are some of our favourite upcycling ideas for Christmas decorations, they are a fun way to get the kids as well as the whole family involved in upcycling.

• You can use old light bulbs or papers to create a funky bobble decoration for your tree. You can see the below style and more ideas here.
•  You can use wooden clothespins, hot glue and ribbons to make your own Christmas star. Click here to learn how.
• Create a unique garland/wreath using old piano sheets, leftover gift tags, paper & more. See ideas here.
• Don’t toss your wine bottles, they make for beautiful candle holders to light up your festive dinner.
• Make homemade Christmas cards using up old buttons, fabrics & broken jewellery.

Our Civic Amenity Sites will assist you greatly when clearing out your home before Christmas. We have seven civic amenity sites across Connacht for your convenience, where you can dispose of a large variety of recyclable Christmas waste items like wrapping paper, cardboard and Christmas lights at a reduced cost. Click here to read the benefits of using one of our civic amenity’s sites.

For larger Christmas waste items that cannot be disposed of in your general waste bin, you can consider hiring a skip. At Barna Recycling we have skips of all sizes, so you can be sure we’ll have one to suit your needs and the space available to you – check out our useful skip sizing guide here.

Barna Recycling’s Top Tips For Recycling & Upcycling Old Clothing/Textiles

Here at Barna Recycling, we often find our customers wondering the best way to dispose of old clothes and textiles that have already seen their share of wear & tear. But don’t worry, we got you covered. This blog has outlined plenty of sustainable ways for you to repurpose, recycle, and dispose of old textiles.

1) Shop Smart

Did you know that the textile industry is the second largest contributor to global pollution? (Source: mywaste.ie)

Every piece of clothing you own or use has undergone a complex manufacturing process that utilises a high amount of electricity, water, and energy sources.

When you choose to recycle & upcycle unwanted textiles, you save energy by reducing/ eliminating the need to make materials from scratch. Before purchasing a new piece of clothing, shoes, etc., always think if you need it and will you wear it.

2) Donate to charity

You can also donate clothes & textiles in good condition to local charity shops as there are often non-profits and charities that would be highly grateful for your donation. Generally, the proceeds from clothing sales in charity shops are used to support causes in your local area or community. Some organisations accepting clothing donations are Enable Ireland, Oxfam, NCBI, Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) and Liberty Recycling. The Irish Charity Shops Association website will help you to find your nearest charity shops & clothing banks near you.

Top Barna Recycling Tips:

• When you donate clothes to a charity shop, you give life to your old clothes and provide financial assistance towards a good cause.
• When dropping your unwanted clothes at a charity shop, familiarise yourself with other items they may accept for upcycling or re-selling, such as household goods, books, electrical items etc., as some of these shops also take things other than clothes.
• When dropping off clothes, always look at what’s for re-sale and help the charity by purchasing something on the same journey.
• Be sure to check in advance if the charity shop accepts bedclothes & duvets.
• It’s essential to check in advance if heavily soiled or damaged clothes will still be taken in some banks.
• Old clothing that cannot be re-used can still be shredded first and used for furniture stuffing.

3) Swap/hand them down

If you have used clothes & textiles in good condition, another idea is to passing them on to a friend or a family member if they might be interested in them. Remember to be honest about any damage and wash the clothes before you pass them along. Alternatively, you can also swap a few item with the ones closest to you. This way, you are giving your clothes a new life & everyone walks away happy with some new pieces they can add to their wardrobe for free!

Online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace & Depop also allow you to swap or re-sell your clothing.

4) Transform & Upcycle

With a bit of creativity, you can transform damaged/stained clothes into new items such as face masks, tablecloths, cleaning cloths, blankets, padding for chairs, bags, t-shirts, and so much more! You can check out Pinterest or some DIY YouTube videos for inspiration.

5) Civic Amenity Sites

If you feel you cannot do any of the above, you can always bring large volumes of your old textiles to your local civic amenity site or clothing banks near you. Some of our civic amenity sites will also accept any type of clothing, footwear, textiles, including blankets at selected civic amenity sites. However, an extra charge would apply for disposing of bedding and mattresses.

How does fabric get recycled?

• After your clothes are collected from various points, the first step is to segregate them into wearable, unusable and usable garments or products.
• Once the sorting is done, the textiles are shredded & pulled into fibres to form yarn. Other fibres may be added to the mix depending on the end-use of the yarn. The yarn is then re-spun to be re-used, either by being knitted or woven.
• Any fibre that cannot be made into yarns is processed into fillings, such as insulation or textile filling inside mattresses.
• If you’re recycling polyester-based textiles, these are granulated into polyester chips. The chips are melted so that they can create new fibres for new polyester textiles.
• In recent years the most popular method of re-using clothes is through charity shops or re-selling to second-hand shops.

An Effective Guide to Reducing Household Waste: Bathroom Edition

If you pay close attention to your personal care, beauty, and general hygiene routine, you might be surprised to find that often there is more waste in your bathroom than anywhere else in the house! From shampoo bottles, shower gels, soap packaging, disposable razors to bathroom cleaners and toilet rolls, our bathrooms are packed with recyclables!

Even though we all use toiletries, personal care items and bathroom cleaners on a daily basis. When it comes to reducing household waste, we find bathroom waste often tends to get overlooked. It’s important to understand how and where to dispose of your bathroom waste correctly.

Below we have outlined some excellent tips and techniques for creating a low waste, eco-friendly bathroom.

Reorganise & Declutter

The fewer products you have in your bathroom, the less waste you will produce!

• Every now and then dedicate time to reorganise and rearrange all your cosmetics, personal care items and toiletries. So, you know what you need/use regularly and keep them easy to reach.
• Dispose of the items that you do not need or the ones that have expired

Use Biodegradable Products

• Instead of using plastic combs and brushes, opt for a biodegradable bamboo or wooden toothbrush/hairbrush. You can find wooden/bamboo combs and brushes that are all-natural, biodegradable and very chic!
• Instead of buying shampoos and soaps in plastic bottles, switch to using soap bars and shampoo cars. This is way is eco-friendlier and more cost-effective compared to using liquid soap, shampoos and shower gels that come in plastic containers and non-recyclable plastic pumps.
• You can also go a step further and look for organic, palm oil free soaps made from all-natural ingredients with compostable packaging.
• If you are someone with a regular makeup or skincare routine, then you know it is quite common to use up cotton pads per day and throwing them away after use. Instead, we recommend using reusable cotton makeup removal pads, which can be washed along with your regular laundry. In fact, several make-up brands, reward you for recycling their old products which might also be worth looking into.

Shop Smart

• Most beauty products & toiletries, tend to come with excessive plastic packaging including cardboard boxes, sometimes even the ones that say are eco-friendly!
• Instead of purchasing these products, opt for products that come with sustainable, compostable, or biodegradable packaging materials, corrugated bubble wrap, biodegradable foam beads etc. With boxes or bubble wrap, it is always a good idea to re-use them where possible.

Understand what you can recycle

The good news is that almost all your bathroom waste items can in fact be recycled. Here is a list of the items that can (and should) be recycled from your bathroom:

• Shampoo, conditioner & shower gel Bottles
• Hand soap bottles (reuse or remove the pump dispenser as you cannot recycle it)
• Cardboard boxes, e.g., toothpaste or soapboxes
• Bathroom cleaner and bleach bottles
• Toilet roll tubes
• Deodorant lids

Note: Items such as nappies, toilet rolls, wipes, cotton wool CANNOT be recycled and would have to be disposed of in the general waste bin (black Barna bin)
Remember, all items being recycled must be clean, dry, and loose. So, make sure to rinse out any bottles and containers before popping them into your recycling bin. You can also check What Goes in My Blue Bin if you are unsure of items that you can recycle.

Visit our website If you would like more information on where to dispose of certain items or would like to order a skip, give our team a call today on 091 771619.