Sand-based toys
Sand‑based toys and contamination
Sand‑based toys may be dangerous due to contamination. The CCPC has issued recall notices for certain sand‑based toys where the play sand included may contain asbestos. Asbestos is banned across the EU due to health risks. Consumers who have bought an affected product should stop using it, follow the recall instructions and arrange safe handling, disposal and a refund.
Check the latest product recall notices to see if you have a product that has been affected.
What is asbestos and why is it a risk?
Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring minerals. It is banned across the EU because exposure can pose a risk to health. In the affected products, asbestos may have entered the play sand as a naturally occurring impurity. This can occur due to its presence in the raw material from which the sand was originally mined or processed.
What should you do if you think you have a product that is affected by asbestos?
If you have bought a sand‑based toy that you believe may be affected by the asbestos recalls, you should take the following steps:
- Check the CCPC product recalls page to see if your product is listed and follow any specific instructions issued by the trader
- Stop using the product immediately
How should affected play sand be handled and disposed of?
How the sand should be handled depends on whether it has been used.
If the sand is still packaged
- Place the sand in a heavy‑duty plastic bag
- Seal the bag securely
- Label the bag clearly
- Store it in a secure location, out of reach of other people
- There are civic amenity sites available for you to dispose of products that may have been contaminated by asbestos, find your nearest one at the list below
If the sand has been used
- Clean areas where the sand was used using wet cloths to avoid generating dust
- Do not use a vacuum for clean up
- Wear gloves and a protective FFP2 face mask or equivalent
- Double bag the sand, gloves, mask and cloths
- Seal the bags securely and label them clearly
- Store them in a secure location until collection
- Keep other people away from areas where the sand has been used until the clean‑up is complete.
- There are civic amenity sites available for you to dispose of products that may have been contaminated by asbestos, find your nearest one at the list below
Can you get a refund if you have a product that has dangerous play sand?
Before disposing of the product, you should contact the distributor or retailer you purchased it from to request a refund.
The CCPC continues to engage with the Health Service Executive, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Health and Safety Authority as required. Further updates will be provided when additional information becomes available.
List of civic amenity sites where you can dispose of products affected by potential asbestos contamination
| County | Civic Amenity site name | Eircode |
| Carlow | Powerstown Landfill & Recycling Centre | R93 RF22 |
| Cavan | Baileborough Civic Amenity Centre | A82 FX64 |
| Cavan | Ballyconnell Recycling Centre | H14 PW18 |
| Cavan | Corranure Recycling Centre | H12 DK61 |
| Clare | Ennis Recycling Centre | V95 CX97 |
| Clare | Inagh Recycling Centre | V95 XT96 |
| Clare | Shannon Recycling Centre | V14 YC99 |
| Cork | Bandon Civic Amenity Centre | P72 TH73 |
| Cork | Macroom Civic Amenity Site | P12 XE33 |
| Cork | Mallow Civic Amenity Site | P51 WK73 |
| Cork | Millstreet Recycling Amenity | P51 PH31 |
| Cork | Raffeen Civic Amenity Site | T12 VH56 |
| Cork | Rossmore Civic Amenity Site | T45 X264 |
| Cork City | Cork City Council Civic Amenity & Recycling Centre | T12 AE86 |
| Dublin City | Ballymun Civic Amenity Centre | D11 XH7P |
| Dublin City | North Strand Civic Amenity Centre | D01 C1F1 |
| Dublin City | Ringsend Civic Amenity Centre | D04 RF79 |
| Dun Laoghaire | Ballyogan Landfill Facility & Recycling Park | D18 XW95 |
| Dun Laoghaire | Eden Park Recycling Centre | A96 AY89 |
| Dun Laoghaire | Shanganagh Recycling Centre | A98 FN40 |
| Galway | Ballinasloe Recycling Centre | H53 VH95 |
| Galway | Clifden Recycling Centre | H71 YV83 |
| Galway | Tuam Recycling Centre | H54 Y512 |
| Kerry | Caherciveen Transfer Station | V23 YC90 |
| Kerry | Coolcaslagh Waste Transfer Unit | V93 E084 |
| Kerry | Dingle Civic Amenity Site | V92 HE04 |
| Kerry | Kenmare Recycling & Waste Centre | V93 D0N1 |
| Kerry | Milltown Waste Transfer Station | V93 PK07 |
| Kilkenny | Dunmore Landfill & Civic Amenity Site | R95 HD50 |
| Laois | Kyletalesha Civic Amenity Centre | R32 RD45 |
| Limerick | Kilmallock Civic Amenity Centre | V35 FX30 |
| Limerick | Mungret Recycling Centre | V94 VX97 |
| Limerick | Newcastle West Civic Amenity Centre | V42 TD62 |
| Mayo | Derrinumera Landfill Site | F28 TF89 |
| Mayo | Rathroeen Landfill & Recycling Plant | F26 TF29 |
| Meath | Kells Civic Amenity Centre | A82 VK23 |
| Monaghan | Carrickmacross Recycling Centre | A81 YT50 |
| Monaghan | Scotch Corner CA site | A75 P267 |
| Roscommon | Roscommon Civic Amenity Site | F42 A337 |
| South Dublin | Ballymount Civic Amenity Site | D12 RF44 |
| Tipperary | Cashel Recycling Centre | E25 VK54 |
| Tipperary | Clonmel Recycling Centre | E91 C6E8 |
| Tipperary | Nenagh Recycling Centre | E45 KA07 |
| Westmeath | Athlone Recycling Centre | N37 T625 |
| Westmeath | Mullingar Civic Amenity Centre | N91 X768 |
| Wexford | Enniscorthy Household Recycling Centre | Y21 KC43 |
| Wexford | Gorey Household Recycling Centre | Y25 KT35 |
| Wexford | Holmestown Waste Management Facility | Y35 Y28W |
| Wexford | New Ross Household Recycling Centre | Y34 HT99 |
| Wicklow | Avoca Recycling Centre (Ballymurtagh) | Y14 X028 |
| Wicklow | Bray Recycling Centre | A98 W3P3 |
| Wicklow | Murrough Recycling Centre (The Murrough) | A67 PW71 |
| Wicklow | Rampere Recycling Centre (Baltinglass) | W91 PK06 |
