Climate Change Overview

Scientific evidence points to the fact that Climate change is happening. Climate change is in the main is caused by human activity on the earth and has greatly increased over the last 200 years. This change can have serious and damaging effects on our lives and on the natural environment in the decades ahead.

Greenhouse gas emissions from cars, trucks, trains, power facilities, factories, and other man-made creations — rather than natural variations in climate — are the primary cause of Climate change.

Over time gases have reached a concentration level in our atmosphere. These greenhouse gases act like a blanket, trapping the sun’s warmth near the earth’s surface, and affecting the planet’s climate system.

Greenhouse gases stay in the atmosphere for a long time. Although plants and the ocean absorb carbon dioxide, they can’t keep up with all the extra carbon dioxide that people have been releasing.

The Conference

We all need to do more and increasing knowledge and awareness of what we can do is a valuable first step.  The EPA National Climate Conference, in collaboration with the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment will take place on 15th May 2019 at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. This could be your first step and an opportunity to learn more; to do more!

Speaker will include: Charles Sabel (Columbia Law School), Maria Vassilakou (Mayor of Vienna), Marie Donnelly (Former Director Renewables, Research & Innovation and Energy Efficiency at DG Energy, EC) and Margaret Desmond (Head of Climate Services Section, EPA)

Panel sessions and discussions will focus on Agriculture, Transport, Energy and Engagement.

You can book free here. For the conference agenda, click here

The EPA National Climate Conference is convened by the EPA as part of the National Dialogue on Climate Action. It is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of Communications Climate Action and Environment. For more details please visit the Irish EPA website.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT, is an award-winning social enterprise offering electrical, electronic and metal recycling services through drop off and collection. Services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland and South Dublin County Council. Recycle IT are supported by Pobal and Dormant Accounts and authorised by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow.

For more information on Recycle IT please call 01 4578321, email info@recycleit.ie or visit our website www.recycleit.ie

Press Release – March 29, 2019.

Recycle IT, a community electrical recycling organisation based in Dublin was allocated approximately €40,000 to help fund a new electrical recycling collection vehicle. This funding was allocated through the Dormant Accounts Fund managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development and administrated by Pobal.

As a social enterprise, part funded through the Community Services Programme (CSP) Recycle IT supports the delivery of environmental services in areas of disadvantage. Recycle IT engage with many communities including communities lacking services due to economic, geographical or social challenges or where demand for services is not being addressed easily by existing services.

Una Lavelle General Manager of Recycle IT has welcomed the news calling it ‘a testament to the work of Recycle IT over the last number of years. Una has singled out Pobal and the Dormant Account Fund for their support since inception of electrical recycling services in 2002.

John McEntee Development Manager at Recycle IT is delighted that this funding has been allocated to ensure electrical and electronic recycling collections continue in Dublin and surrounding areas while also reinforcing our ability to deliver training and employment opportunities.

Over the last two year Recycle IT have safely recycled over 900 tonnes of electrical items from homes and over 235 tonnes from school, charities and community organisations in Dublin and surrounding areas. The Dormant Account Fund allows Recycle IT continue to offer an accessible and eco-friendly recycling service for old and once loved electrical and electronic items. Residents groups, charities, school and college will have ongoing access to a free, safe and prescheduled collection service using a new vehicle which will delivers greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions for the benefit of society and the organisation.

This Dormant Accounts funding supports the vision of its voluntary board of directors and staff team to continue delivery of our recycling service, widen the area of coverage and deliver on our mission to provide a professional community based electronic waste management service while creating sustainable employment opportunities based at our recycling facility in Clondalkin, Dublin 22.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT, is a social enterprise offering electrical, electronic and metal recycling services through drop off and collection. Services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland and South Dublin County Council. Recycle IT are supported by Pobal and Dormant Accounts and authorised by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow.

For more information on Recycle IT please call 01 4578321, email info@recycleit.ie or visit our website www.recycleit.ie

April 1st – April 5th 2019 

South Dublin County Council’s 15th annual Eco Week promotes awareness of the environment and is a fantastic opportunity for schools, colleges, communities groups, businesses and people living and working in South Dublin to educate, learn and become a part of improving our environment.

Eco Week 2019 really has something for everyone covers a variety of topics. All events are FREE to access  but please book early. Remember when considering events, share details with others, travel together by offering lifts, or use public transport to reduce carbon miles.

Events

Events include environmental workshops, shows, talks and eco walks on themes such as waste prevention, re-use, recycling, energy, water, biodiversity and climate change These activities are scheduled to take place all around the south Dublin in libraries, parks, offices and recycling centres. There is something for everyone from Community Groups to Schools, Business,Householders and Individuals.

Things to try for Eco Week

Recycle IT have complied a list of 11 things you might consider doing for Eco Week 2018, hopefully they are all eco-friendly!

• Leave the grass uncut for April.
• Compost the grass cuttings during spring and summer.
• Bring you family on woodland adventure walk.
• Used your skills to get out community gardening.
• Arrange an eco-cleanup of your local area.
• Book a resident association electrical recycling collection day for your estate.
• Clear out your home and garden shed, donate the items to charity or recycle safely.
• Involve the kids in planting a tree or two.
• Volunteer some time with an environmental group.
• Reduce plastic waste as you are shopping e.g. leave it with the shop as a message!
• Get the family to go meat or fish free for a day.
• Get together with friends for a “Green Party” with organic food and drinks.
• Visit the Recycle IT electrical recycling display at South Dublin County Council office in Tallaght.

Recycle IT for Eco Week

Starting April 1st 2019 residents living and businesses operating in South County Dublin can benefit from free recycling. They can recycle all dual-purpose home and small office electrical/electronic equipment free with Recycle IT during Eco Week 2019 and afterwards!

All you need to do is drop off your electrical equipment at the Recycle IT recycling facility in Clondalkin. The team will be on hand all week to help you will lifting or moving items. You can in advance on 01 4578321 to let them know your coming or to get directions. The centre is open for drop off from 8.30am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 3pm on Friday.

WEEE to work

Recycle IT in association with South Dublin County Council will operate a WEEE to Work Collection for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). People working in local organisations and businesses are invited to participate by bringing their old electrical items to work

The Recycle IT team will accept any items with a plug or a battery. Batteries will also be collected during the week, just bag or box them and bring them along. If you wish to organise a dedicated and free WEEE to Work Collection from your office or business, Recycle IT will be happy to support.

Display

As part of our electrical recycling display, drop off points will be avaialalbe in the lobby of the South Dublin County Council offices in Tallaght to recycle small electircal items so bring them from home and drop in when passing!

Information 

If you have questions or would like to arrange a WEEE to Work collection from your office, please call us on 01 4578321 or email: info@recycleit.ie. You can also visit the website www.recycleit.ie to learn more about electrical recycling.

For more information on Eco-Week or to book a place at an event please visit www.southdublin.ie or contact the Environmental Awareness Section, South Dublin County Council on 01 4149000.

Recycle IT Safely – Computers, Phone, Tablet & Hard Disks!

According to industry research shipments of PCs are definitely growing, for the first time in six years. Market research firms Gartner and IDC both agree that the PC market grew worldwide in the second quarter of 2018, with IDC claiming an increase of 2.7% and Gartner recording a 1.4 % growth.

Windows 10 business PCs seem to be driving some of the growth and PC shipments in the second quarter of 2018 was driven by demand in the business market. People are also buying the latest high-end PCs for gaming at home.

Even with this growth, the consumer PC’s market has changed and this change continues to impact on personal PC sales to homes and business. Consumers are using their smartphones for even more daily tasks, such as checking social media, calendaring, banking and shopping, which is reducing the need for a consumer PC at home.

Data and Information 

As PC sales ebb and flow individuals and organisations are becoming larger consumers of information every day. We are buying storage devices such as hard disk drives (HDD) to store business and personal customer information including photos of everything from our kids to bank statements, bank cards and password data. Everything can be stored electronically!

Higher resolution video, more cameras, growth in the “internet of things” (IoT) i.e. devices such as smart TVs, smart speakers, smart toys, wearable, drones, smart appliances and applications are driving demand for electronic storage.

Weather data is stored on external HDD, mobile phones, tablets, memory cards, memory keys or other storage devices people should be aware how important it is to destroy and recycle these devices safely once the items have served their purpose. Both business and personal data can be valuable to others so it’s important to, wipe data and/or dismantle old data storing equipment so data can’t be recovered.

You might be thinking, what will I do with all that information on the HDD before recycling a PC?  If so, please don’t try to burn or use industrial-strength magnetic forces on the devices as these methods are not full proof or safe!

What to Do next?

The key is to destroy your computer, laptop or tablet HDD is ensuring it can’t ever spin again. The physical destruction of the drive means increased confidence that stored data is obliterated and can never be used again. This is the method, Recycle IT prescribe and practice.

In the interest of time and money, you don’t need to destroy the full PC or laptop just the hard drive which is a small box inside of computer itself and usually contains sensitive information including credit card information, photos or contact details. So if you are upgrading to a new computer device (desktop computer, phone, laptop, tablet, etc.) please arrange for the removal of the hard drive at the same time as recycling the computer!

How to Destroy the HDD?

If you are looking to dispose of an old computer with a hard drive, it’s really best to physically destroy the old hard drive just to be 100% certain that the old data is completely destroyed.  Recycle IT use electronic tools and powerful cutting tools to ensure the HDD is destroyed. This method is an ideal option for the disposal of home or small office hard drives.

Safety in Destruction

Our team take every precaution from wearing protective goggles, gloves, and a dust mask for mouth and nose when cutting into the metal drive. They can cut right through the drive, from one side to the other multiple times ensuring the platters and the controller board are shattered.  Once complete Recycle IT can provide destruction and disposal certification depending on your needs.

Finally

It’s worth making the point again – failure to arrange the destruction of your old hard drives at the time of recycling your computer or phone could result in the inappropriate sharing of sensitive information.

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 services to over 100,000 homes and organisations in Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE which includes thousands of dishwashers, computers, cables, monitors, microwaves, TVs and metal items.

Our electrical community collection service is provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT are supported by the Pobal operated Dormant Accounts Funds and the Community Service Programme, South Dublin County Council and recycling is authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Leinster.

Call us on 01 4578321 or email us at here

Visit our website www.recycleit.ie