Waste List – what to recycle. 

Do you, your family, friends and colleagues at work really know the waste items which go in your different bins? Unsure what packaging goes where or can be recycled? Asking yourself what should go into the general waste bin?

The Recycling List Ireland is a national standardised list of items that are accepted as part of the recycling service throughout Ireland. The lists are really helpful! 

You will find the most recently published and nationally agreed household recycling waste list in picture format below as well as a downloadable booklet on Waste Prevention and Recycling Trick and Tips.

Remember if it’s not on the waste list it doesn’t belong in the bin. Please make sure that all items are clean, dry and placed loosely in the bin.

Plastics 

Today we are recovering and recycling 35% of its plastic waste, considerably ahead of EU targets, but those targets were about to double. A yearly total of 95,000 tons of plastic are recycled, but this figure will need to increase to match the 190,000 tons which are the new target for Ireland. You can help by recycling the below plastics.

Tins and Cans 

Steel tins and cans are commonly used for anything from coffee to soup and pet food. They are one of the most recycled materials in Ireland. Recycling a tin or steel cans is easy, just give them a quick wash out and drop them in the bins.

Paper and Cardboard

Used paper and cardboard can be turned into new paper or cardboard, but the quality of the material usually diminishes with each recycling treatment. After five to seven reuses the material has reached its useful end but there is a solution – by adding new paper fibres to each recycling cycle paper is given lots for extra life. Good news for us!

Recycled materials such as paper and cardboard, metals and plastic are commodities which can be sold on the global market but the prices and demand for material constantly fluctuate. In order for these materials to reach their maximum value they need to be presented clean and sorted so please do your best when placing them in the bin.

Waste list –  why?

As you may be aware, China has introduced an import ban on 24 categories of solid waste, including a ban on some paper and plastics which are used by retailers as packaging for many household items. This packaging usually ends up in your recycling bin. The ban by China (which is their right) resulted in a problem for waste companies. It has been hard to find new outlets/countries to dispose of this waste. (you have to ask why should others accept our waste). This has resulted in prices increases with fees now introduced for green bin collections.

Please note, electrical, electronic or battery-operated items (including batteries) don’t go in the recycle bin. Old phones, kettles, toasters, electronic toys, batteries and  much more can be recycled with Recycle IT – You with find a full list of items here 

To download the most recent Waste Prevention and Recycling Tricks and Tips booklet click the link

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is an award-winning not for profit social enterprise providing a collection and drop off service for all types of waste electrical, electronic and metal items. During the last 18 months Recycle IT offer drop-off and collection service to 111,000 homes and organizations in Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE which includes thousands of dishwashers, computers, cables, monitors, microwaves, screens, and metal items.

Our electrical community collection service is provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT are supported by Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow.

Call us on 01 4578321 or email us at here

Visit our website www.recycleit.ie