A study funded by the European Commission says nearly half of all discarded waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in Europe is not properly collected and recycled.

Much WEEE goes under the radar because consumers often dispose of it in household waste or it becomes mixed up in mixed-metal waste streams where it gets recycled, but not under compliant conditions for WEEE.  

Furthermore, large amounts of WEEE are scavenged (stolen for parts), before they can be formally collected and exported abroad (legally and illegally), or simply hoarded by consumers in their homes.

Recycle IT is asking families and small businesses, across Dublin to find and recycle 7 – 10 end-of-life electrical and electronic items over the coming months to help improve Ireland’s recycling performance. This can include cables, chargers, plugs, batteries, phones, kettles, irons, headphones, and much more!

Hoarding

Did you know or even think most Irish homes contain an average of 15 to 20 damaged or unused electrical items. (Source: WEEE Ireland). Separate/y, EU data shows smartphones are the most unused and hoarded electrical items lying around homes. Experts expected about 5.3 billion mobile and or smartphones to drop out of use in 2022 alone.

Surveys conducted between June and September 2022 in 5 EU countries and the UK showed households had an approximate total of 74 smaller electronic items such as phones, tablets, laptops, electric tools, hair dryers, toasters and other appliances (excluding lamps). 

Of that 74 electronic items, 13 are being hoarded (9 of them unused but working, 4 are broken).

Reasons given for hoarding include

• I might use it again in the future (46%)
• I plan on selling it / giving it away (15%)
• It has sentimental value (13%)
• It might have value in the future (9%)
• I don’t know how to dispose of it (7%)

You can read and learn more here.

Business Hoarding

When you update or buy new office IT equipment, hopefully, you don’t place the older electronic devices into a store or drawer! This is not good for the environment as items are not recycled for reuse. It’s also a risk in terms of unauthorized removal of the physical devices, and accessing the data stored on mobile phones, tablets laptops, memory keys and other portable devices.

With more people engaging in hybrid and remote working, mobility devices are preferred as they support flexible working. Unused office PCs may become redundant and if this happens hard disk drives should be removed and destroyed and the remaining parts safely recycled

With more laptops, monitors, keyboards and other accessories used for efficient remote working, e-waste numbers are bound to increase.

Change

We should all consider moving to a circular economy approach, not just at home but at work too. Change is good and has to start somewhere.

The move to a circular economy offers an opportunity to create new jobs in areas such as repair, refurbishment and reuse, as well as creating higher value employment for those who currently work in collection and bulk recycling

Help Offered

With many electronics containing hazardous materials, including lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium, you cannot simply dispose of these electronics, in your regular black or green recycling bin.

Residents and small businesses in any part of Dublin and surrounding areas can drop off of dual- purpose home and small office equipment to Recycle IT for safe recycling. At present, this drop-off service is offered for free.

If you need a cost-effective personal or business collection please call our team on 01 4578321.

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.

Recycle IT offer drop-off and collection services to both homes and organizations in Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE which includes thousands of printers and we can help recycle yours!

If you require data destruction we can offer a cost-effective service to households and organisations. Just email us to find out more.

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

To speak with Recycle IT please call 01 4578321 or email us here

Visit our website www.recycleit.ie