All Electrical Items can be Recycled?

Todays Electrical Equipment

In 2021 WEEE Ireland helped support the electrical recycling needs across 75% of Ireland with 120,000 fridges and 200,000 screens and many more items safely recycled.

The results for 2022 are listed in the infographic directly below and you can view the full WEEE Ireland Annual Report for 2022 here. Recycle IT are delighted to say we happily contributed to these achievements in partnership with WEEE Ireland.

Using Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Today adults and children at home, in school or at work find themselves using a range of electronic consumer items which all contain a variety of electrical or electronic components.

Think about the school whiteboard, the office safe, speakers, networking equipment, radios, TVs, power tools, cameras, fire alarms, printers, scanners, earbuds, cables, and plugs.

Think about home kitchens, you have cookers, toasters, kettles, coffee makers, washing machines, tumble dryers, slow cookers, fryers, smoothie makers and lots more.

These types of items are replaced and renewed regularly and the old stuff should be recycled. Last year WEEE Ireland helped us recycle 10.03 kg per head of population in Ireland.

What is WEEE?

WEEE is defined as waste electrical and electronic equipment. WEEE is really electrical items of all types which have reached the end of their useful life. Items might be damaged, outdated, unused with a charger missing. Equipment which is out of sight and out of mind.

Electrical and electronic equipment is any item with a plug or battery. It can be classed as both domestic and business with some electrical items used at home and in the workplace, for example, a kettle for making tea or coffee. To download a list of things, click here

Recycling WEEE

Any appliance or equipment that operates on electricity or batteries has the potential to cause damage to our environment if it is not disposed of in a safe and responsible manner.

The average product life-cycle of electronic goods is becoming shorter and the amount of outdated, damaged or broken equipment that is being thrown away is increasing all the time. Dealing with the electrical and electronic waste which households and organisations create is a specialist role and one which if carried out well can improve our environment and create training and employment opportunities.

Everyday electrical and electronic waste items include:

Large household appliances (refrigerators/freezers, washing machines, dishwashers)
Small household appliances (toasters, coffee makers, irons, hair dryers)
Information technology (IT) and telecommunications equipment (personal computers, telephones, mobile phones, laptops, printers, scanners, photocopiers)
Consumer electronics (televisions, stereo equipment, electric toothbrushes, transistor radios)
Lighting equipment (fluorescent lamps and LED bulbs)
Electrical and electronic tools (handheld drills, saws, screwdrivers)
Toys (PlayStation, Xbox, Wii)
Medical equipment systems (excluding implanted and infected products)
Monitoring and control instruments (security and alarm equipment)
Automatic dispensers.
Cables and wire.

Recycle IT has assembled a comprehensive list of electrical equipment you can recycle. The list can be viewed or downloaded in PDF format by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom of the webpage

What to do?

Humans, as consumers of electrical equipment, have to ensure items are safely recycled at an authorised waste facility (permitted by the Local Authority or Licensed by the EPA). These include Authority Civic Amenity Facilities or a local retailer on behalf of a compliance scheme (for example WEEE Ireland)

Recycle IT have a recycling facility in Dublin where we offer a free drop-off service for home and small office electrical equipment which is beyond reuse. You may also have your WEEE collected cost-effectively in Dublin and the surrounding areas, just email or call our team.

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.

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