Category: Awards

Recycle IT Recognized for 2025 Sustainability Award

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Recycle IT Shortlisted for National Sustainability Award

Chambers Ireland recently (22 August 2025) announced the shortlist for the 2025 Sustainable Business Impact Awards. These awards, sponsored by BAM Ireland and supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development, celebrate businesses making a positive difference in communities, the environment, and society.

This year, Recycle IT has been shortlisted in the “Sustainable Impact by a Medium Business” category for its work on community recycling.

Speaking about the awards, Alasdair Henderson of BAM Ireland said the awards highlight “organisations driving positive change through sustainability and social responsibility.”

Minister Jerry Buttimer added that social enterprises and sustainable businesses “play a vital role in improving lives and protecting the environment.”

Una Lavelle, General Manager at Recycle IT stated “Being shortlisted for the Chambers Ireland Sustainable Business Impact Awards is a great recognition of our team’s commitment to recycling and community engagement. The awards highlight our work, open new partnerships, and encourage us to keep delivering positive environmental impact.”

In total, 60 projects from across Ireland have been shortlisted across 12 categories. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Wednesday, 24th September 2025.

You can learn more about the awards and those shortlisted with a visit to the Chamber Ireland website, just click here.

About Chambers Ireland

Chambers Ireland is the voice of business throughout Ireland, with 36 member chambers across every major city, town and region of the island. Aligning our strategic priorities with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, our aim is to make places better to live, work and do business

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is an award-winning, not-for-profit, social enterprise established to create employment and promote environmental awareness through recycling and reuse. We work in partnership with WEEE Ireland and are authorized by your local authority to provide electrical, electronic, and pure metal recycling collections across Dublin since 2007. Recycle IT are fully compliant with WEEE Recycling Requirements and permit details are available here.

Over the last 20 year Recycle IT have happily offered safe electrical and electronic recycling services to households and small and medium size organisations across a range of sectors. We offer our services all over Dublin and in surrounding areas. We are happy to offer cost effective and safe computer, laptop or tablet data destruction for home users and small offices on request.

For more information about Recycle IT please click here.

51 Summer Tips – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

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Summer Tips!

For generations in Ireland and across Europe thrift was one of the main reasons for reuse.  In the developing world, it’s still the case and leads to very high levels of reuse.  In Ireland as in other developed countries rising wages and greater consumer purchasing power have increased the demand for convenience products.

Metal Reuse Bin @ Recycle IT

Some people are still careful about how much money they spend and on what items. Reusing is a feature of their life so as not to waste money. We all could learn something from careful management of our resources whether at home or in the office.

Convenience products have helped us undervalue reuse in favor of disposal or recycling. Recycling is positive and has great benefits but uses resources including time, human capital and natural resources (e.g. fuel) to get the items to locations where they can be recycled effectively. Reuse is preferable!

If you can reuse an item yourself, it can help save money, save time, and the environment. Reuse helps reduce CO2 emissions and the mining of new raw materials.  Reuse can be a matter of thinking a little differently and figuring out how old milk cartons, cans, bags, bicycles, tires, packing or wood may be reused to match your needs. Reuse will truly find a new life for items around your home or workplace.

Reverse the Trend with Reuse

51 Tips 

We’ve listed some reuse tips for summer – Have a read and see what you can do, share with others and do involve any kids in your life.

Here are 51 short and simple reuse tips for the summer months:

  1. Reuse glass jars as drink glasses.
  2. Turn old t-shirts into cleaning cloths.
  3. Save gift bags to use again.
  4. Use containers for beach snacks.
  5. Repurpose ice cream tubs for storage.
  6. Refill water bottles instead of buying new ones.
  7. Reuse wrapping paper for crafts.
  8. Turn cereal boxes into organizers.
  9. Use old towels for pet bedding.
  10. Reuse takeout containers for leftovers.
  11. Make planters from yogurt pots.
  12. Use egg cartons for seed starters.
  13. Repurpose jars for homemade jam.
  14. Use tin cans for desk storage.
  15. Turn worn-out jeans into shorts.
  16. Reuse kids’ school supplies for summer crafts.
  17. Turn shoe boxes into storage bins.
  18. Repurpose plastic bottles as bird feeders.
  19. Use scrap paper for notes or lists.
  20. Reuse broken umbrellas for fabric.
  21. Make toys from cardboard boxes.
  22. Turn wine corks into keychains.
  23. Use old blankets for picnic mats.
  24. Reuse ice cream sticks for plant markers.
  25. Repurpose detergent bottles for watering cans.
  26. Keep ribbons for decorations.
  27. Use both sides of paper.
  28. Reuse straws for crafts.
  29. Turn broken crayons into new crayon blocks.
  30. Make a kite from old plastic bags.
  31. Store tools in old buckets.
  32. Use mason jars as lanterns.
  33. Reuse seasonal decor each year.
  34. Turn magazines into collages.
  35. Repurpose clothing buttons for crafts.
  36. Use old toothbrushes to clean.
  37. Save and reuse shipping boxes.
  38. Store beach gear in reused bags.
  39. Use a basket for berry picking.
  40. Turn jars into candle holders.
  41. Reuse bread bags for snacks.
  42. Make dog toys from old socks.
  43. Refill old spray bottles for gardening.
  44. Decorate old cans as vases.
  45. Turn an old ladder into a plant stand.
  46. Reuse tin foil if clean.
  47. Reuse food jars for DIY gifts.
  48. Use shoe bags to organize travel items.
  49. Repurpose fabric scraps as bookmarks.
  50. Turn paper rolls into binoculars for kids.
  51. Reuse paper bags for crafts or storage.

Soft Plastics – Recycling for Reuse

Soft plastics, along with rigid plastics, paper and card, tins and cans are now accepted in your household recycle bin. Soft plastics like plastic film (wraps, bags, etc.) are now accepted in the household recycling bin. This change is due to advancements in recycling technology and the opening of new markets for processing these materials. To ensure proper recycling, make sure the soft plastics are clean, dry, and loose when placed in the bin. Watch this short video

Waste is a treasure! 

We all know one person’s waste is another person’s treasure. Instead of discarding unwanted tools, clothes, furniture or electrical appliances, try reuse with friends or donating them can reduce waste and help others save money.

Outdoor Reuse of Space

Local community groups, charity shops, schools, and nonprofit organizations may accept a variety of donated items, including used books, paint, working toys, and unneeded furniture. Please click here to learn more

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT, is an award-winning social enterprise offering electrical, electronic and metal recycling services through drop off and collection. Recycling services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland and South Dublin County Council.

Recycle IT is supported by Pobal and Dormant Accounts and authorised by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across the east midlands waste region.

Our goal is to create training and employment opportunities through the provision of waste management services. Surplus earned income is reinvested in operational, and employment-related costs.

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

Bikes for Metal Reuse – Recycle IT

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Tips for Summer

On By JMCEIn Awards, Climate change, Collections, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, News, Social Enterprise, sustainability, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

Irish Summer Tips

As the Irish weather heats and days get longer our evenings fill up with activities including visits to the beach or park. We have weekend BBQs, games and lots of opportunities for fun. This all adds up to lots of leisure time spent outdoors in our beautiful Irish green environment.

Hot Days – Reusable Water Bottle

So, while we are playing, eating, swimming or sunbathing we can still have a focus on reducing waste, saving resources and keeping the environment green with these summer reduce, reuse and recycling tips:

1. Lawns and Gardens 

Don’t let that cut grass end up in a landfill!  Used your grass clippings as organic fertilizer. It can be reused to benefit your immediate garden environment. Instead of binning the grass as you cut, leave it on the lawn where it will return valuable nutrients to the soil. Alternatively, you can add your clippings to a compost heap. Either way, grass recycling will make a big impact on the environment and help to reduce landfill burdens.

Lawn Care

2. Summer Travel

Whether travelling in a group or by one’s self consider using public transport, walking or cycling to your preferred location. This can help reduce the environmental impact of Co2 emission and save you money. If you are in a city location like Dublin, you can avail of the Dublin Bike Scheme so plan in advance. If you really need to use a car, you could try sharing a Go Car for once off summer events, might be a real alternative to buying a car which sits at home for long periods unused.

3. Summer Food and Snack

On family trips to the zoo or a visit to the beach try packing homemade sandwiches, fruit and snacks in reusable containers, bring a flask and use reusable water bottles instead of buying bottled water, tea and coffee. Take bags along to collect recyclables and look for recycling bins when you stop for breaks. The average household of four people uses approx. 330 glass bottles and jars each year. Recycling 6 glass bottles per week saves enough energy to boil 2 kettles with enough water in each for five cups of coffee, so please drop off your bottles at the local bottle bank this summer! (Source: Recycling Live)

Summer BBQ and Food
Summer BBQ and Food

4. Summer Toys

If you have footballs, beach balls or pool toys that are old, try finding other uses for them or patching holes before throwing away. You might even offer them to a charity shop for use by others. These products are usually made of PVC and therefore not recyclable, so think about that before buying new ones.  If you are shopping for new summer toys, buy those made from recyclable materials to minimize the environmental impact.

 5. Summer  BBQs and Picnics

Whether at home, or in a park make recycling easy by taking and using a clearly labelled recycling bin. Recycle cans, glass, plastic, and aluminium foil. Since plastic cutlery usually can’t be recycled, offer reusable knives and forks for your guests. If you really want to work toward zero waste, put out reusable napkins, plates, cups, and cutlery at your next event! Of course, this isn’t always practical so, if you must buy disposable, try to find paper products that are made from biodegradable or compostable materials.

Wood Broken Pallets – Cut Up

If your using a firepit try to source old wood like wood from damaged pallets. Pallets burn well in wood stoves or fire pits, providing warmth and energy while keeping materials out of landfills.

6. Summer Equipment

Do you need to dispose of 10 year old garden furniture, lawnmowers, old BBQs or outdoor grills?. You can recycle all these type items instead of throwing them away! When recycling the equipment, please clean it thoroughly and then take it apart, separating the pieces into piles of metal, glass and plastic. Stainless steel, steel, cast iron, brass and aluminium can all be recycled. Plastic parts should all have a recycling symbol and number that tells you how they should be recycled. Remember you can recycle the electronic and metal components with Recycle IT.  Once you have recycled your old equipment and are looking for a replacements try to choose an eco-friendly, long life, easy clean model. Remember when cooking you steak, gas and electric BBQ’s or grills are better for the environment than wood or charcoal.

Summer Recycling - Lawn Mowers
Summer Recycling – Lawn Mowers

7. Clothes

Try to reuse last year summer clothes. It’s possibly 8 or 9 months since they have been last worn and nobody will remember them. If you have to choose a new range of summer clothes for you or your family remember to recycle any used clothes with a local charity shops. They can be used by other people over and over while raising funds for much needed causes.

Opportunity Knocks 

This summer is an opportunity to become a proactive recycler. Involved your kids and teach them about recycling now, so they will practice it throughout their life. It is important to teach our children about the environment and the positive effects of reduce, reuse and recycling. Start your summer with fun activities such as a garage clean out and car boot sale that will promote reuse and recycling, and keep your kids occupied! Tidy towns is another good option!

To learn more about recycling your once loved electrical items give Recycle IT a call on 01 4578321. or visit our website

Recycle IT is Good Market Approved

 

2025 Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards

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Social Enterprise Awards:

The 2025 Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards celebrate and support the amazing work done by social enterprises across Dublin. These awards, organised by Dublin City Council and is run by Inner City Enterprise (ICE) with support from Dublin City Council and the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) based in Dublin City. These award really shine a light on the positive impact social enterprises have on communities.

Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards 2025

What is Social Enterprise

A social enterprise is a business that trades for a social or environmental purpose. They reinvest profits to create social change and support local needs. Social enterprises can be involved in anything from education and employment to climate action and health. They play a key role in building stronger, fairer, and more inclusive communities.

The Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards are open to all types of social enterprises based in the Dublin City area or Social Enterprises offering products or services in Dublin City. Whether your enterprise is just starting or has been running for years, applying can be a big step forward. There are many good reasons to enter.

Why Enter?

1. Recognition and Credibility
Winning or even being shortlisted for an award can give your social enterprise a huge boost in reputation. It shows the public, partners, and funders that your work is being recognised and valued by others. It can also make people more confident in supporting or working with your organisation.

2. Funding Support
The award includes financial prizes, which can be a great help. This funding can be used to grow your services, support your team, or try something new. For small and growing social enterprises, this support can make a real difference.

3. Promotion and Visibility
Finalists and winners are promoted through Dublin City Council and partner channels. This means more people will hear about your work. You’ll get the chance to tell your story to a wider audience, attract new supporters, and possibly reach new customers or clients.

4. Motivation and Morale
Awards recognise hard work and dedication. Being part of the awards can lift the spirits of your team and volunteers. It reminds everyone that their efforts are making a difference. This kind of encouragement can go a long way, especially when times are tough.

5. Networking and Opportunities
The awards give you the chance to meet other social enterprises, funders, and supporters. These connections can lead to future collaborations, funding opportunities, or new ideas. Sharing experiences with others in the sector can also help you learn and grow.

Award Winners 2024

The Value of Awards for Social Enterprises

Beyond the prize itself, awards help raise awareness of what social enterprises do. They bring attention to local solutions to social problems. By celebrating social enterprise, we help grow a stronger sector that can tackle issues like poverty, exclusion, and climate change.

Entering awards also helps organisations reflect on their impact. The application process can help you think more clearly about your goals, successes, and how you measure progress. This can be useful even if you don’t win—helping your enterprise improve and grow.

Final Thoughts

If you run a social enterprise in Dublin, the 2025 Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards are a chance to share your story, get support, and be part of a growing movement. These awards are not just about winning—they’re about showing the value of your work and inspiring others to create positive change.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is an award-winning social enterprise providing recycling collection and drop-off services for all types of waste electrical, electronic equipment (WEEE) and pure metal items.

During 2024 Recycle IT operated drop-off and collection services to homes, schools, charities and businesses across Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE including thousands of batteries, computers, cables, monitors, kettles, microwaves and screens.

Recycle IT services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development, Dormant Accounts Fund, Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Leinster.

For further details about our free and cost-effective services call us on 01 4578321, email info@recycleit.ie or visit the Recycle IT website at www.recycleit.ie

Recycle IT – Dublin City Social Enterprise Award Winner 2022

Electronic Waste – Vapes

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Vape Waste

A 2024 survey carried out by Coyne Research for ERP Ireland of 1,000 adults found a third of people incorrectly believe vapes can be disposed of in the normal refuse bin, while one in five said they put them in their domestic recycling bin. Source: Irish Examiner.

A 2023 study by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research found that roughly 844 million vapes are disposed of every year, equaling the weight of six Eiffel Towers. Wow! Its also worth noting, vape devices contain lithium, considered by the European Commission a ‘strategic raw material’ crucial to the EU’s economy and green energy transition, but supplies are at risk. Really it needs to be recovered and recycling safely really helps.

Vapes Sales

According to figures for the Irish grocery trade compiled by Nielsen IQ, in the year ending May 2021 there were 5.6 million units of vape sold. One year later, that had jumped 44 per cent to 8.06 million. In the year ending May 2023, that figure had more than trebled to 26.3 million sales as published in the Irish Times.

What are Vapes?

Vapes and e-cigarettes are electronic devices that simulate tobacco smoking and are said to have fewer toxins than cigarette smoke. They consist of an atomizer, a power source (usually a battery), and a container for the liquid (cartridge or tank). Instead of smoke, users inhale vapor. At 26.3 million sales that a lot of batteries for safe recycling?

Recycling Vapes

It is possible to recycle single use vapes and reusable e-cigarette devices in Ireland. This service is provided free of charge by WEEE Ireland

Disposable and rechargeable vapes or e-cigarette devices can be recycled using WEEE Ireland Blue Battery Boxes. These can be found at local recycling centres, newsagents, supermarkets, and workplaces. These collection boxes can be found across Ireland.

Products that are battery-powered often include a symbol of a crossed-out wheelie bin. This is to signify that they should not be placed in household waste bin or green bin. 

Disposable vapes are not required to take them apart recycled as one unit.

Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency categories disposable vapes and e-cigarette products as electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). This means that retailers are legally required to accept them for collection. If you would like to recycle you vape, you could also return it to whatever shop you purchased it from and ask them to take it.

Vape Components

Battery: The battery in a vape device is a lithium-ion battery, which should be recycled properly. Many electronic stores or recycling centres including Recycle IT accept lithium-ion batteries for recycling.

Metal Parts: Metal components like the coil, casing, and other parts can usually be recycled with other metal items. Check with your local recycling facility to see if they accept these materials. Again, Recycle IT will accept metal components.

E-liquid Bottles: If you’re using refillable e-liquid bottles, they can usually be recycled with other plastic containers. Make sure to rinse them out thoroughly before recycling.

E-Waste Compliance: Many areas have specific locations for electronic waste (e-waste), which may accept vape devices. Check with your local authority or your local recycling centre for options.

Disposal: If you’re unable to recycle your vape components, make sure to dispose of them properly. Do not throw them in the green or black bin, as they can end up in landfills and harm the environment. Instead, look for electronic waste disposal facilities or programs in your area.

Remember: Disposable vapes are not required to taken apart. They can be recycled as one unit but not in the green or black bin. Please dispose of your vape responsibly.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT, are a social enterprise offering electrical, electronic and metal recycling. Services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT are supported by Pobal, the Dormant Accounts Fund, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Leinster.

For further details about our services call us on 01 4578321, email info@recycleit.ie or visit the Recycle IT website at www.recycleit.ie

Learn more about WEEE Ireland Vape Recycling here.

Recycle IT – Repak Award Winner 2023 – Community Recycler of the Year