New fee system at Tramore Valley Park

A new flat charge of €4 on entry will apply at the Tramore Valley Park Civic Amenity Site (CAS) from Monday 24 August. The charge is part of a new charging structure being introduced by Cork City Council.

The new structure also includes a number of other charges, including a €5 charge per bag of green waste, and a €6 charge per bag of refuse.

Two charges have also been increased. Recycling visits have increased from €3 to €4 per visit, and paint tins will now cost €2 to recycle, a €1 increase. Paint tin recycling is restricted to ten tins per customer per day.

For example, a customer arriving in a car with four bags of green waste will pay a total of €24 to dispose of the waste - the €4 entry fee and €20 in per-bag charges.

The new structure will bring Tramore Valley Park CAS into alignment with the charging model as it is operated elsewhere. The council are also looking to move to a completely cashless model at the site. Currently, 57% of all transactions are cashless.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council said: “The Civic Amenity Site at Tramore Valley Park provides an essential service for thousands of households across Cork. However, like business and families, local authorities are experiencing significant cost increases across every aspect of our operation - including waste management, disposal, and processing.

“The new changes will support the long-term sustainability of a facility that plays a critical role in recycling, waste reduction, and environmental protection in the region,” they said.

Tramore Valley Park CAS handles the highest tonnage of domestic recyclables, bulk waste, and hazardous materials in Munster. In 2025, the total tonnage of waste collected at the CAS was 3,433 tons.

However, since 2023, refuse disposal costs have increased by over 10% per annum. Timber disposal is set to increase by 43% by the end of 2026, and the cost of disposal of paint tins has risen by 20% since the beginning of the year.

The CAS budget will remain under regular review given the volatility in costs for waste processing and disposal and the “continuing uncertainty” around sectoral costs.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.