On September 25, 2015, 193 countries at the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which included the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The goals include ending poverty, hunger, and inequality, finding solutions to climate change, and improving access to quality healthcare and education for all. Each goal has a set of targets (169 in total) that are to be achieved by the year 2030.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more!
A workshop titled Workshop: A Community Approach to Climate Change, Decarbonisation and SDGs is planned for Wednesday, May 4, 2022, and will look at:
What do the SDGs mean for nonprofits in 2022?
How can we increase engagement around achieving SDG targets, and set stretch targets for ourselves?
How do we help to speed up a just transition to a de-carbonized, sustainable, and biodiverse island?
Who can attend
The workshop is aimed at the staff and volunteers of charities, community groups, NGOs and social enterprises based in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
About the workshop
This workshop is part of a series hosted by iCommunity, a joint project of NICVA and The Wheel, which is bringing together nonprofits and social enterprises in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to learn from shared experiences. The workshops follow exploratory discussions in February and March, which will inform the agenda for this workshop.
This workshop is a hybrid event and there are a limited number of in-person places available.
Please note, that once registered, it’s not possible to change your ticket from in-person to online attendance and vice versa.
Location: Guinness Enterprise Centre Taylor’s Lane, The Liberties, Dublin 8.
Date and time: Wednesday, May 4th 2022, 10:30 – 15:30 IST.
The Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards was established by Inner City Enterprise (ICE) and Dublin City Council with the support of the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Dublin City in 2015.
These partner organisations recognised that there was a gap in the market for small flexible grants to kick-start the creation or development of social enterprises in Dublin City. Each year since 2015, a fund of €50,000 has been distributed among innovative social enterprises. This year the fund is €60,000!
Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards 2021 – Awardees
Awards Aims
The awards aim to increase awareness of the important contribution that social enterprise makes to building communities and in creating employment and developing the skills of the participants who get involved. The awards granted to the successful applicants will also allow them to further develop their plans and activities and bring the benefits of their social enterprise to more individuals and communities.
The 2022 fund is available to provide a small number of financial awards for Social Enterprises that are at start-up or in the development phase.
In Sept 2021 Dublin City Council announced the 8 Dublin based social enterprises awarded funding and support after successful completing the awards process. You will find the list below of Dublin City Social Enterprise Awardees for 2021 – Well done!
The 8 awardees received funding from a total pool of €50,000 along with various supports which will assist their social enterprises to develop and achieve a greater impact among the individuals and communities that they serve and assist in Dublin city. They also received a bespoke trophy which was handmade by PACE, a local social enterprise and previous awardee.
It could be you this year! Information about the 2022 awards application process, criteria and application form are available here following the launch on March 10th 2022.
Submission Deadline for Applications: 23:59 – 25th of April 2022.
Recycle IT is a Social Enterprise providing employment and training through recycling opportunities. We offer recycling drop off and collection services in Dublin and surrounding areas.
In 2021 our team help recycle 652 tons of waste electrical, electronic equipment and metal. This includes business IT equipment, commercial equipment and domestic household appliances.
Recycle IT worked with individuals, resident associations, charities, schools, government organisations, community groups and businesses to provide safe electrical recycling services to those with differing needs and budgets.
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS), provides backup power when your regular power source fails or voltage drops to an unacceptable level. A UPS is also known as a battery backup. Although UPSs are not truly IT equipment they play an important part in ensuring reliability. UPSs ensure a flow of high-quality power to critical IT equipment.
Old UPS Devices for Recycling
Using UPS Equipment
A UPS is not intended to provide long-term backup or extended use of connected devices for periods without power; UPS units are not designed to offer a battery-operated solution for continuing to work, use the internet, or operate your business.
Multiple devices can be plugged into a UPS similar to a power bar, and the UPS generally provides such functions as power surge protection. When a drop in voltage occurs, the UPS detects it and switches over to battery backup. Components plugged into the UPS can then receive power for a limited amount of time (often ranging from 10 to 45 minutes), until normal power is restored or the system can shut down properly.
UPS equipment can be found in offices and now homes as many more people work from home. It with noting, that over time UPS devices and internal batteries need to be replaced while older UPS units should go for safe recycling.
Your IT team or IT contractor should be able to offer guidance on when you need to replace batteries or the complete UPS device.
Different Types of Power Supply Batteries
There are three main types of batteries used in power supplies: Nickel-Cadmium, Lead-Acid, and Lithium-Ion. There isn’t a single “best” UPS battery technology – the choice should be made on a your requirements for a project. All can be recycled safely.
Recycling UPS Equipment
Alongside all type of IT equipment Recycle IT manage the safe collection, breakdown and disposal of UPS equipment, batteries and replacement UPS batteries in line with waste regulations.
UPS Breakdown
As a registered waste collector and permit waste facility our service helps ensure that all the legal requirements associated with the collection, transportation and disposal of waste batteries and electronic components are fully complied with.
The majority of UPS systems for recycling are older systems with at least ten years of usage. Those sent for recycling are replaced by higher efficiency and more compact systems. Uninterruptible power supplies are generally stripped down within our facility into their subassembly parts. Metals and plastics are recycled, including electrical cabling, capacitors and fans. PCBs and components are recycled safely and in accordance with national guidelines covering WEEE and RoHS.
Batteries from UPS equipment
For more information about our ups battery recycling service, please contact a member of our team @ info@recycleit.ie
More About Recylce IT
Recycle IT is a Social Enterprise providing employment and training through recycling opportunities. We offer recycling drop off and collection services in Dublin and surrounding areas.
In 2021 our team help recycle 652 tons of waste electrical, electronic equipment and metal. This includes business IT equipment, commercial equipment and domestic household appliances.
Recycle IT worked with individuals, resident associations, charities, schools, government organisations, community groups and businesses to provide safe electrical recycling services to those with differing needs and budgets.
The kitchen cooker or hob is often considered one of the most essential home appliances that many individuals and families across Ireland. They are used daily. In summer you can add the Barbecue (BBQ) and out door gas heaters to this list of gas appliances. They come in different colors and sizes but gas cookers, stoves and BBQs have long been the first choice of professional chefs and home cooks. Bakers seem to prefer electric ovens!
Old Barbecue
Choice
In Ireland, approximately 21% of households use gas cookers, reflecting a significant reliance on this appliance for daily cooking needs. Source: irishtimes.com
Gas cookers are also popular choice for commercial kitchens due to their efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and precise temperature control. In 2023, global sales of gas cookers were estimated to reach 20 million units, with demand highest in regions like Asia and Europe. Their affordability and compatibility with natural gas and LPG make them a preferred option for many consumers.
However, old gas cookers must be recycled safely to prevent environmental hazards. These appliances contain metals, plastics, and sometimes hazardous components like mercury switches or hazardous insulation, which can contaminate our environment if not disposed of correctly.
Recycling ensures valuable materials like stainless steel, copper, and aluminum are recovered and reused, reducing waste and the need for raw materials. Safe disposal also prevents gas leaks and fire hazards from improperly discarded units. Many manufacturers and recycling programs now offer collection services to ensure responsible disposal and sustainability.
If you’re buying a new summer barbecue, gas cooker, oven or hob, we can help you safely recycle your old gas appliances
Why Recycle?
Unwanted appliances including items used in kitchens are one of Ireland’s fastest-growing types of waste. As you know many items can be repaired or reused while others simply need to be recycled. All options save natural resources and the environment so please do what is best for you.
Household Gas Cooker
If you do not recycle your appliance properly they tend to end up in landfills or illegally dumped where hazardous substances can leak out and cause soil and water contamination – harming wildlife, plant life and human health. If you are removing a gas cooker remember to do so safely.
Recycle IT can Help?
In accordance with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations, cookers, ovens, hobs and all types of electrical or electronic household items can be recycled by Recycle IT.
Did you know most gas cookers, hobs and even BBQs have a starter button either powered by mains electricity or battery which means Recycle IT can accept these type of appliances alongside all types of electrical items used in homes, gardens and small offices.
Unused or old household gas items including decommissioned boilers, gas-powered water heaters and BBQs will be accepted for free. If they don’t have electric components, don’t worry, they are generally manufactured from metal which is accepted by Recycle IT. Household appliances can be dropped off at no cost or collected cost-effectively in Dublin and surrounding counties.
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 offered drop-off and collection services to homes, charities, schools and business organizations of all types. Our recycling teams operate across 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 is supported by Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Leinster.
EPA Waste Data: Latest reference year 2019 (Data subject to Eurostat validation)
Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is one of the fastest-growing waste streams worldwide, and one of the most hazardous if not managed properly. It includes everything from discarded household appliances (such as fridges) to electronic devices (such as computers and mobile phones). The WEEE Directive (2012/19/EC) aims to ensure that WEEE is collected and managed in an environmentally friendly way. In 2019 Ireland fail to reach the collection rate but did surpass all EU targets for recycling and recovery of WEEE.
This is good news for recycling and recovery in 2019 but not for colleciton. Moving forward so we all need to do more to recycle old, damaged or unused electrical items safely at the right locations or using an authorised recycler.
Washing Machne for Recycling
Key trends
Figure 1 shows the trends in WEEE collected and recovered in Ireland over time. It is evident that the economic recession that occurred between 2008 and 2011 led to a decrease in the quantity of WEEE collected, as householders and businesses did not replace electrical and electronic equipment as frequently as before. The recovering economy since 2012 coincided with a large rise in WEEE collected, underscoring the link between economic wealth and consumption of electronic goods.
WEEE Data – Click to Enlarge
The WEEE Directive (2012/19/EC) sets an overall WEEE collection target (which increased from 45% to 65% in 2019) and also sets individual targets for the reuse, recovery and recycling of six different categories of WEEE.
The data for 2019 shows that 62,600 tonnes of WEEE was collected in Ireland for treatment in 2019, almost identical to the quantity collected in 2018 (62,700 tonnes). In 2019, Ireland achieved a WEEE collection rate of 61% and therefore failed to meet the new 65% target.
Some 57,897 tonnes of WEEE were recovered and 53,162 tonnes were prepared for reuse or recycling in 2019; increases of 4% and 2%, respectively, on the 2018 quantities.
The data show that Ireland surpassed the the WEEE Directive recovery and recycling/reuse targets for all six categories of WEEE in 2019.
Large Equipment’ accounted for 59% (by weight) of all WEEE collected in Ireland in 2019. This category includes cookers, washing machines etc.
Recycling discarded electrical items is not only good for the environment and human health, but it also makes sense. Many of these devices contain precious metals and valuable components such as glass that can be reused and recycled into new products if the waste is effectively managed. Improving the collection, treatment and recycling of WEEE can increase resource efficiency and contribute to the circular economy.
WEEE Data – Click to Enlarge
The EPA’s most recent waste characterisation study carried out in 2017-2018 found that substantial amounts of WEEE were still present in the household bins, accounting for 0.9% of waste in the residual bin and 0.7% of waste in the recycling bin. These results indicate that there is further room for improvement in terms of ensuring this material is separately collected through the available channels, to allow the maximum value to be extracted from these valuable materials.
Table 1: Ireland’s WEEE recycling and recovery rates in 2019, compared with EU targets.
Categories
EU recovery target
Ireland’s recovery percentage
EU preparation for reuse and recycling target
Ireland’s preparation for reuse and recycling percentage
1
Temperature exchange equipment
85%
97%
80%
86%
2
Screens, monitors, and equipment containing screens having a surface greater than 100 cm2
80%
94%
70%
84%
3
Lamps
n.a.
88%
80%
82%
4
Large equipment (*) (any external dimension more than 50 cm)
85%
93%
80%
87%
5
Small equipment (no external dimension more than 50 cm)
75%
84%
55%
74%
6
Small IT and telecommunications equipment (no external dimension more than 50 cm)
As part of annual reporting under the WEEE Directive, the EPA submits WEEE waste statistics for Ireland to the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications for transmission to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. The data are required to be submitted by 30th June of the reference year +2 (i.e. 2019 data were collected and processed in 2020 and submitted to Eurostat by 30th June 2021). Following validation by Eurostat, official statistics for Ireland and all Member States are published on the Eurostat website as part of the following dataset:
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) by waste management operations. Click here.
EPA national statistics assessment of WEEE: Data release date: 7 July 2021: Click here.
More About Recylce IT
Recycle IT is a Social Enterprise providing employment and training through recycling opportunities. We offer recycling drop off and collection services in Dublin and surrounding areas.
In 2021 our team help recycle 652 tons of waste electrical, electronic equipment and metal. This includes business IT equipment, commercial equipment and domestic household appliances.
Recycle IT worked with individuals, resident associations, charities, schools, government organisations, community groups and businesses to provide safe electrical recycling services to those with differing needs and budgets.
Recycle IT 