Category: Climate change

Climate change includes global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases resulting in shifts in notable patterns.

Tablets – Recylce IT Safely

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Climate change, Collections, Computer Recycling, Dublin, Electronic Equipment, Family, IT EquipmentLeave a comment

Why Is It So Important to Recycle Old Tablets Safely?

Have you ever found an old tablet hidden in a drawer? Maybe it’s cracked, doesn’t hold a charge anymore, or has been replaced by a newer device. Many kids and teens have old tablets lying around at home. It might seem easy to throw them in the bin or forget about them, but recycling old tablets safely is actually very important.

So, why does it matter? Let’s find out!

Tablets Can Be Recycled Safely
Children’s Tablet – Can be Recycled

Tablets Contain Valuable Materials

A tablet may look like just a piece of plastic and glass, but inside it are many useful materials. Tablets contain metals like gold, silver, copper, and aluminium. These materials are valuable and can be reused to make new devices.

If old tablets are thrown away, these precious resources are wasted. Mining for new materials takes a lot of energy and can damage the environment. By recycling tablets, we can recover these materials and use them again instead of digging up more from the Earth.

Think of recycling as giving your old tablet a second life!

Electronic Waste Is a Growing Problem

Electronic waste, often called e-waste, is one of the fastest-growing types of rubbish in the world. Every year, millions of phones, tablets, computers, and other gadgets are thrown away.


Electronic Equipment for Recycling

When too much e-waste ends up in landfills, it creates huge environmental problems. The more devices people throw away, the more space is needed for rubbish dumps, and the more natural resources are used to make replacements.

By recycling your old tablet, you become part of the solution. Even one tablet recycled properly can make a positive difference.

Old Tablets Can Contain Harmful Materials

Some parts inside electronic devices contain materials that should not be left in ordinary rubbish bins. If tablets are damaged or broken down in landfills, certain substances can leak into the soil and water.

This pollution can harm plants, animals, and even people. Clean water and healthy soil are important for everyone, and safe recycling helps protect both.

When old tablets are taken to proper recycling centres, experts know how to handle these materials safely and responsibly.

Your Personal Information Needs Protection

Here’s something many people forget: old tablets can still contain personal information.

Even if you stopped using your tablet months or years ago, it may still store:

  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Passwords
  • Messages
  • Email accounts
  • Game information
  • School projects
  • Personal notes

Throwing a tablet away without clearing the data can put your privacy at risk. Someone else might be able to access information you thought was deleted.

Safe recycling means taking a few important steps first:

  1. Back up anything you want to keep.
  2. Sign out of your accounts.
  3. Delete your files and photos.
  4. Perform a factory reset.
  5. Take the tablet to a trusted recycling centre.

Protecting your personal information is just as important as protecting the environment.

Recycling Helps Fight Climate Change

Making new electronic devices requires factories, transportation, and mining. All of these activities use energy and produce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

Climate Change – Click to Enlarge

Recycling old tablets reduces the need to make everything from brand-new materials. Reusing metals and parts saves energy and lowers pollution.

You may think one old tablet won’t make much difference, but imagine millions of people safely recycling their devices. Together, small actions can have a huge impact on our planet.

Recycling Teaches Responsibility

Taking care of old electronics teaches an important lesson: our choices matter.

Being responsible doesn’t only mean cleaning your room or doing homework. It also means thinking about how your actions affect the world around you.

When you recycle your tablet safely, you show that you care about:

  • The environment
  • Wildlife
  • Natural resources
  • Other people
  • Your personal information

These are habits that can last a lifetime.

You Can Help Create a Circular Economy

A circular economy is a system where products and materials are reused instead of thrown away.

Imagine if every old tablet was simply dumped in the rubbish. We would constantly need new materials and create more waste. But if tablets are recycled, many of their parts can be reused to create new products.

It’s like turning old Lego pieces or now old plastic bottles into a brand-new creation instead of throwing them away.

Circular Economy – Click to Enlarge

The goal is to keep materials in use for as long as possible. Safe recycling helps make this happen.

What Should You Do With an Old Tablet?

If you find an old tablet at home, here are some smart steps to follow:

  • Ask a parent or guardian for help.
  • Save any important files.
  • Remove personal information.
  • Reset the device to factory settings.
  • Take it to an approved electronics recycling centre or trade-in programme.

Never throw tablets into ordinary household bins.

Every Action Counts

You don’t have to be an environmental scientist to make a difference. Small actions from kids and teens can lead to big changes.

Recycling old tablets safely helps protect nature, saves valuable resources, keeps harmful materials out of the environment, reduces pollution, and protects your private information.

The next time you see an old tablet gathering dust in a drawer, remember that it still has value. Instead of treating it like rubbish, give it a chance to be recycled properly.

By making smart choices today, you can help create a cleaner, safer, and greener future for everyone. And that’s something worth tapping into! You can learn more about computer usage and recycling here.

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!

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

Summer Tips 51 – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

On By JMCEIn News, Awards, Climate change, Family, Plastic, Social Enterprise, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

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.

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.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Scarecrow
A cheerful Reuse Scarecrow on a sunny day

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 which are seasonal, creative, and encourages reuse in the garden, at the beach, on picnics, and around the home during the summer months.

  • Turn glass jars into iced coffee cups.
  • Make a herb garden from old tins.
  • Use old towels as beach picnic blankets.
  • Turn worn t-shirts into reusable shopping bags.
  • Reuse takeaway tubs for picnic food.
  • Store seashell collections in glass jars.
  • Make bird feeders from plastic bottles.
  • Use egg cartons to grow salad seedlings.
  • Turn wine corks into plant labels.
  • Reuse yoghurt pots for kids’ painting.
  • Make fairy lights from clean jam jars.
  • Repurpose old buckets as garden planters.
  • Store garden twine in coffee tins.
  • Use cereal boxes to organise holiday photos.
  • Turn old jeans into gardening aprons.
  • Save gift bags for summer birthdays.
  • Make a bug hotel from scrap wood and bamboo.
  • Reuse shoeboxes to store flip-flops.
  • Turn old mugs into succulent pots.
  • Keep rubber bands for sealing food bags.
  • Make colorful bunting from fabric scraps.
  • Reuse paper bags to wrap homemade gifts.
  • Turn old drawers into raised planters.
  • Use old toothbrushes to clean sandals.
  • Refill water bottles before every outing.
  • Decorate tin cans as flower vases.
  • Turn old blankets into outdoor cinema rugs.
  • Reuse bread bags for freezer storage.
  • Make wind chimes from old cutlery.
  • Store pegs in reused ice cream tubs.
  • Use cardboard boxes to build play forts.
  • Turn old scarves into picnic table runners.
  • Save jars for homemade lemonade.
  • Reuse ribbons to tie garden plants.
  • Make plant markers from ice lolly sticks.
  • Turn old CDs into garden bird scarers.
  • Reuse plastic trays to catch plant drips.
  • Store beach toys in old mesh bags.
  • Turn paper rolls into seedling pots.
  • Use old baskets for garden harvesting.
  • Make coasters from leftover tiles or corks.
  • Reuse envelopes for shopping lists.
  • Turn old socks into dusting mitts.
  • Save shipping boxes for moving or storage.
  • Make a scarecrow from worn clothing.
  • Turn broken crayons into colorful art shapes.
  • Reuse glass bottles as garden edging.
  • Make outdoor games from cardboard.
  • Repurpose old ladders as plant displays.
  • Turn fabric offcuts into reusable gift wrap.
  • Share or swap unwanted summer items with neighbors.

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

Recycle IT –Sustainability Award Winner 2025

Photocopier and Printer Recycling

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Climate change, Collections, Electronic Equipment, News, Social EnterpriseLeave a comment

Today

According to Transparency Market Research the global photocopier market was valued at US$ 727.2 million in 2023. The market is projected to reach US $1.2 billion by 2034 through the increasing demand for multifunctional devices and the expansion serval end-use industries. People working from home and rising disposable income are other reasons for increased demand for smaller printers & copiers across the globe.

Some History

The photocopier has come a long way since the first model’s produced in the early 20th century with models found in homes and offices across the world!

In 1937 Chester Carlson, a patent attorney in New York invented a process called electrophotography. In 1938, this was renamed Xerography and the first known photocopied document was the “10-22-38 Astoria”.

The Xerography copying process went on to become one of the most well-known inventions of the 20th century and it’s estimated that Carlson gave away almost $100 million to charity and foundations before his death in 1968. Well done Chester.

Developments

In 1955, Haloid – by then Haloid Xerox – produced Copyflo, the first automated xerographic machine and many other companies followed Xerox into the market over the next 50 years.

Companies that manufacture photocopier cartridges and printers began offering recycling services in the early 1990s. Over the years many businesses developed photocopiers and cartridge recycling services as part of their customer sales, returning an environmental policy.  It may take decades to figure out if these policies are good for the environment, but one thing we can say is it’s best to reduce, reuse and recycle!

1626873387795
Office Copier, Printer, Scanner – Recycle IT

Safety 

Over the years photocopiers have developed into a computer with scanners and printers attached. As with other computers and servers, photocopies have a hard disk drive. This hard drive allows scans of documents and images to be stored on that drive.

As photocopiers and printers are replaced or upgraded the older model which has been in your office for years may have a hard disk drive filled with pages that have been copied over those years. Some of those pages will contain all sorts of business and personal information.

Think about what you or your office colleagues might have copied – bank account details, birth certificates, passports, tax forms – As old photocopiers are replaced think about any potential risks which the disposal of the old machine might create for your business and staff.

Office Photocopier - Recycle IT

Office Photocopier – Recycle IT

Recycling

Today technology for printing and copying comes in a variety of sizes, from lightweight and budget-friendly printers to larger standalone multifunction machines. Printers, copiers, scanners, and fax machines are among the most common office equipment in work environments that need to be recycled.

When you dispose of your printer, please do so responsibly to ensure no toxic materials or e-waste go’s to landfills or is dumped in a remote location.

Recycle IT can remove large standalone photocopiers from office buildings and work spaces with lift access or no lifted access. Our trained team and specialised equipment can help clear old heavy equipment from second or third, floor buildings letting you take back the space. Just let us know the manufacturer name and model number of the photocopier or multi-function printer and we can check the specifications prior to removal.

If you need to safely and cost-effectively recycle copier and printing equipment, please call 01 4578321 or email Recycle IT.

Larger Photocopier and Stand

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!

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

Recycle IT –Sustainability Award Winner 2025

Dublin On-Street Waste Compactors

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

Something New!

Dublin City Council has introduced new waste compactors on Fownes Street Upper and St Stephen’s Green to help keep our city cleaner and remove rubbish bags from pavements.

These easy-to-use compactors can hold much more waste than regular bin bags, helping to keep streets clean, tidy, and free from litter. They compress loose garbage into dense, uniform blocks, often the size of a small caravan. By replacing plastic rubbish bags left on pavements, the compressor help prevent bags being ripped open by birds or animals and reduce illegal dumping.

‘No More Rubbish Excuses’ campaign by Dublin City Council

Reason!

The compactors are designed for busy city streets and are part of Dublin City Council’s plan to create a cleaner, safer, and more attractive city for everyone.

Residents and businesses in the pilot area are now asked to use these compactors or arrange suitable collection options with their waste provider instead of leaving bags on the street.

The new system will help remove up to 1,000 plastic bags from Dublin streets every day, creating cleaner, safer, and more attractive public spaces for everyone.

Waste Compactor Onsite

No More Rubbish

The compactors are easy to use and are part of Dublin City Council’s wider “No More Rubbish Excuses” campaign to reduce litter and improve waste management across the city.

Please remember:

  • Do not leave rubbish bags on pavements
  • Use the new compactors responsibly
  • Do not place electrical items or batteries in the compactors
  • Help keep the area outside your home or business clean

By working together, we can create a cleaner, greener Dublin for residents, businesses, and visitors alike so please use the compactors responsibly and help keep Dublin clean.

Waste compactor at Fownes Street Upper D2

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is a not-for-profit social enterprise providing a community collection service for all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Yearly Recycle IT collect from thousands of organizations in Dublin and surrounding areas. Services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland, with support from South Dublin County Council, South Dublin Country Partnership, Pobal and the Irish Government.

Recycle IT is authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities in the Eastern Midlands Waste Region.

Recycle IT as a social enterprise is part-funded through the Community Services Programme operated by Pobal. Any income earned is used to finance operations which include the provision of training and employment opportunities.

Recycle IT Social Enterprise Award 2025

Reduce and Reuse Tips for the Workplace – Sustainable Practices

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Awards, Climate change, Dublin, Electronic Equipment, Family, Green Technology, metal, News, Reuse, Social Enterprise, sustainability, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

Reduce and Reuse means Change

Reducing and reusing materials in workplaces like, schools, colleges, shops, offices and warehouses is one of the simplest ways to cut costs, reduce waste, and run a more sustainable operation. Small changes, done consistently, can make a real difference across your daily, repeatable, step-by-step routines you follow to get your work done, from start to finish. Think about how to include reuse and recycling into daily routines.

Recycling and reusing at work shows both staff and customers that your organisation takes responsibility for its impact. It signals that sustainability isn’t just a policy—it’s part of everyday decisions.

Source: Born Again Pallets – www.bornagainpallets.com

When you encourage a culture of awareness, teamwork, and pride in doing things properly, colleagues are more likely to follow good reduce, reuse and recycling practices. Once supported and normalized in the workplace, reuse and recycling efforts will take hold, continue and extend into home life!

For customers, it builds trust. It shows your business is forward-thinking, responsible, and committed to reducing waste—not just talking about it.

Overall, visible recycling and reuse demonstrate leadership, accountability, and a genuine commitment to sustainability.

Reusable Cable Tie – www.besbet.co.uk

21 practical reuse tips

  1. Reuse sturdy boxes for internal shipments and storage.
  2. Turn used pallets into shelving or workbenches.
  3. Refill and reuse printer cartridges where possible.
  4. Use both sides of paper before recycling.
  5. Repurpose old folders for internal documents.
  6. Store small parts in cleaned, reused containers.
  7. Reuse bubble wrap and packing materials.
  8. Turn damaged pallets into repair parts.
  9. Share surplus supplies between departments.
  10. Reuse cable ties and fasteners when safe.
  11. With permission use scrap wood for projects at home.
  12. Reassign older equipment to less demanding tasks.
  13. Use refillable water bottles and dispensers.
  14. Repurpose jars or tins for tool storage.
  15. Reuse envelopes for internal mail.
  16. Set up a reuse station for shared materials.
  17. Repair items before replacing them.
  18. Donate usable surplus equipment.
  19. Reuse signage by updating inserts instead of replacing frames.
  20. Use washable cloths instead of disposable wipes.
  21. Encourage staff to suggest new reuse ideas.
Try Green Bubble: Sustainable Packaging Solutions – www.green-bubble.ie

Change Mindset

Building a reuse mindset doesn’t require major investment—just awareness and consistency. Over time, these habits reduce waste, save money, and create a more efficient and environmentally responsible workplace for everyone involved in daily operations.

Consistent reuse is important. When every team member follows the agreed small actions daily, waste is reduced, costs are saved, and the workplace becomes more efficient and environmentally responsible over time while encouraging stronger environmental awareness and teamwork.

For example, Recycle IT are well aware that recycling metal is crucial for sustainability, as it allows materials like aluminum and steel to be reprocessed indefinitely without losing quality. By collecting and sending metal for melting and purifying, we cut CO2 emissions and save significant energy compared to mining virgin ore. It reduces landfill waste, protects resources, and supports a cleaner, more sustainable future for businesses and local communities alike.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is a not-for-profit social enterprise providing a community collection service for all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Yearly Recycle IT collect from thousands of organizations in Dublin and surrounding areas. Services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland, with support from South Dublin County Council, South Dublin Country Partnership, Pobal and the Irish Government.

Recycle IT is authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities in the Eastern Midlands Waste Region.

Recycle IT as a social enterprise is part-funded through the Community Services Programme operated by Pobal. Any income earned is used to finance operations which include the provision of training and employment opportunities.

Recycle IT – Award Winner

Authorised and Eco-Friendly Recycling for Schools and Colleges

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Climate change, Collections, Dublin, Family, News, Social EnterpriseLeave a comment

Recycling Benefits

Educational institutions in Dublin and surrounding areas now have the opportunity to safely recycle outdated electrical, electronic, and metal equipment. Our initiative provides a secure and responsible way to declutter facilities while creating valuable space for educational purposes.”

Authorised Electrical and Electronic Recyclng for Schools

“It is important for schoolchildren, teenagers and adults to witness electronic recycling, as it helps them understand the value of protecting the environment by reducing electronic waste. Recycling also educates all age groups on conserving resources, preventing pollution, and taking responsibility for the proper disposal of old electronics—contributing to a healthier planet for everyone. This may be the perfect time to involve your students in some positive recycling activities.”

Reducing old electronics keeps harmful materials out of landfills, protecting the environment. When handled by authorised professionals, these materials are safely dismantled and processed using eco-friendly methods.

Mixed IT Equipment form Dublin School

Free Collection Service

Our service is offered free and is dedicated to reducing large amounts of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) which accumulates in classrooms, canteens, stores, and labs over time.

Recycle IT, is a community-based social enterprise, offering a simple and efficient route to recycle unused electrical and electronic items. After collection, items are broken down and recovered materials are processed for use in the manufacture of a new product. Your recycling helps sustain our organization and create employment and training opportunities.

The free collection service helps safely divert e-waste from landfills and makes use of old items that may have been thrown away. The types of items usually collected include computers, kitchen equipment, phone systems, mobile phones, laptops, tablets, monitors, projectors, printers, battery-operated toys, televisions, and radios. Please click here for a full list 

Our team can offer a cost-effective collection to a school further away. The fee charged covers operational costs related to the collection.

Our learning sector collection service is organised as part of our free community collection service. Recycle IT also support WEEE Ireland with collections of batteries from schools around Dublin which in turn supports the work of LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.

During the last 18 months, our teams have worked with hundreds of schools, colleges, and youth training organisations all over Dublin to achieve an overall increase in electrical equipment collected for recycling with a similar trend in 2025.

We are delighted to be in a position to help your staff, students and organisation safely recycle all types of electrical, electronic and pure metal equipment so do email us. Recycling with us directly creates real training opportunities and maintains employment levels within our social enterprise.

Register an interest

Schools, colleges, and trainers of all types in Dublin and the surrounding area are welcome to register an interest: Simply complete a registration form by clicking here or call our team on 01 4578321 Monday – Friday. Once you call or email we can help you plan and schedule your e-waste collection which will help:

School Electronics for Recycling
  • Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators.
  • Conserves natural resources such as water and minerals.
  • Increases economic well-being and creates local training and employment opportunities.
  • Prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials.
  • Saves energy.
School Collections Supported by WEEE Ireland

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.

For more information about Recycle IT please click here.

Mixed Metal Equipment

Office Recycling Tips for a Greener Office

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

Green Office – Home Office – Any Office:

Summer is coming, it’s brighter so may be it’s time to declutter and tidy? With that in mind, please find some recycling tips to stay eco-friendly at work this spring and year round!

As we know, office waste mainly consists of electrical, electronic, cardboard, paper, packaging and food waste, all of which can be reused, recycled or composted. The one type of waste which is most commonly hoarded for disposal later is old, unused or damaged electrical/electronic equipment.

Office Recycling Categories
Office Waste Separation

Some items just appear event! They might include glass or plastic bottles, cans plastic cups, coffee cups, and food trays and wrappers to name a few. These items can all be segregated and recycled in work or you could encourage staff and suppliers to use reusable items which can be collected and reuse. Disposal items arrival and leave quickly, it’s just to make sure they are recycled for good.

The benefits of introducing a program of reducing, reusing and recycling include;

  • Big euro savings in time on waste disposal costs.
  • Boost to staff morale with a focus on reducing, reuse and recycling.
  • Demonstrates the organisation is commitment to the environment.
  • Enhanced public perception of your organization as a green organization.
  • Promotes a green agenda with your trading partners.
  • Offer time and cost saving opportunities to staff.  
  • Relieves workplace anxiety – when you are organised, clean and tidy, anxiety is reduced.
Office Electrons Clear Out – Old Laptop Parts

Below you will find some tips that can be easily implemented and integrated into the day-to-day running of the office and office building. They may result in reduced office supplies usage, time ordering and money spent.

Tips on How to Reduce Office Waste

  1. Buy supplies in bulk to reduce packaging waste.
  2. Create a clear recycling station with labelled bins for paper, plastic, ink, and electronics.
  3. Your workplace should be encouraged to go paperless.
  4. Use digital signatures to avoid printing documents for signing.
  5. Only print if there is a real need for a hard copy.
  6. Meeting clients or colleagues online to save resources. It’s the norm now!
  7. Use e-mail or instant messages to save paper, time and money.
  8. Share team and event calendars.
  9. Draft documents can be reviewed on-screen before emailing.
  10. Reports and presentation should be electronic only
  11. If paper is required, use FSC–certified paper
  12. Research purchasing printers which print double-sided copies only.
  13. Photocopy and print double-sided.
  14. Scrap paper can be used to make note pads to take phone messages.
  15. Introduce a centralized filing system. This reduces multiple files,
  16. Enable the reuse of paper envelopes by putting a label on top of the old address.
  17.  Cut down on excess equipment sitting in the store, going out of date, e.g. electrical and electronic office equipment.
  18. Regularly service equipment, particularly computers, photocopiers, and printers, to prolong their lifespan.
  19. When equipment reaches its end of life use a registered and licensed electrical and electronic recycler to ensure equipment is safely made ready for reuse and recycling.
  20. Employees should regularly empty out their desk and return any unwanted office supplies to the stationery cupboard.
  21. Free or fee-based online newspaper subscription can reduce the amount of paper to be recycled.
  22. Cancel any unwanted magazine or newspaper subscriptions to avoid unwanted waste accumulating.
  23. Reuse binders and file folders.
  24. Office announcements can be posted online, sent via email or posted once in a centralized monitor or TV screen.
  25. Consider renting equipment that you use only occasionally rather than having to store it in the workplace.
  26. Encourage colleagues to bring lunch to work in reusable containers.
  27. Encourage management to have reusable silverware, plates and cups and a small coffee station in the office.
  28. Research and purchase products with less packaging or with no packaging at all.
  29. Install filtered water rather than a water cooler.
  30. Give your team a reusable water bottle.
  31. Offer secure bike parking.
  32. Source used desks, chairs and lockers (if required).
  33. Unplug equipment when not in use or overnight.
  34. Work from home when possible.
  35. Offer unused or surplus items to other organisation for reuse.
  36. Think about how you can have a green work party or events during the year.
  37. Set printers to default to black-and-white to reduce ink usage.
  38. Use refillable ink cartridges instead of single-use ones.
  39. Switch to energy-efficient LED lighting in your workplace
  40. Encourage staff to use reusable coffee cups instead of disposable ones.
  41. Choose rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.
  42. Donate or sell old furniture instead of throwing it away.
  43. Track waste and set reduction goals to encourage improvement.
General Office Recycling – Recycle IT 

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 2023 Recycle IT operated drop off and collection services to of thousands of homes, schools, charities and businesses across Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE which includes 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

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Challenges in Ireland’s Circular Economy and Waste System

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Awards, Climate change, Collections, Computer Recycling, Dublin, electrical recycling, Electronic Equipment, IT Equipment, sustainability, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

Overview

You will find some highlights below taken from The Irish EPA Circular Economy Programme – The Driving Force for Ireland’s Move to a Circular Economy published by the Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland in December 2024. The EPA is responsible for compiling national statistics on circular economy activities and the generation and management of waste in
the Republic of Ireland.

Did you know?

Ireland is generating excessive waste, reaching a total of 15.7 million tonnes in 2022. Addressing this requires system-wide change to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. Stronger regulation, incentives, and enforcement are needed to encourage industry, businesses, and consumers to adopt more sustainable production and consumption practices.

Circular Economy Ireland
Circular Economy and Waste Statistics Highlight Report

Ireland’s circular economy and waste system is underperforming. Progress in reuse and recycling has stalled, municipal recycling targets are likely to be missed, and a consistent three-bin system has yet to be fully implemented. The country remains largely dependent on a linear economy, with persistently high levels of waste generation.

Packaging waste makes up about one-third of kerbside waste from households and businesses. Since 2016, it has increased by over 20%, while recycling rates have declined by 7%. As a result, there is a significant risk that Ireland will fail to meet recycling targets for both general packaging and plastic packaging waste.

Click to Enlarge – Circular Economy and Waste Data Highlights

The construction sector is another major contributor, generating over 8 million tonnes of waste and accounting for around half of domestic natural resource extraction in 2022. Moving toward a circular economy in the built environment will require prioritizing renovations and retrofits, designing buildings and urban spaces with lower carbon materials, and increasing the reuse of construction resources.

Waste treatment capacity in Ireland is also vulnerable due to heavy reliance on other countries. In 2022, over 1.2 million tonnes of municipal waste were exported, alongside substantial portions of hazardous and municipal waste overall, highlighting the country’s dependence on external processing.

Click to Enlarge – Waste Treatment and E
xports

The EPA collects circular economy and waste data from a wide range of sources, including waste operators, collectors, and treatment facilities, as well as local authorities and EPA-licensed facilities.

The full report summarizes all of the EPA’s circular economy and waste statistics data releases published in 2024, covering the 2022 reporting year. For more detailed insights into individual waste streams and the most up-to-date data for Ireland, refer to the Circular Economy and Waste Statistics resources here.

Circular Economy News

In late April 2026, Minister Alan Dillon announces €29 million to support local jobs, reduce waste, and help communities reuse and repair. The funding, provided through the Circular Economy Fund, will support initiatives in every region of the country — from community repair hubs and reuse centres to innovative business projects that cut waste and make better use of materials.

This means more opportunities for people to repair items instead of throwing them away, more affordable second-hand goods, and more local jobs in areas such as repair, refurbishment, and sustainable manufacturing. You will get further details here.

You can learn more about the Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy 2026-2028 here.

About Recylce IT

Recycle IT is a not-for-profit social enterprise providing a community collection service for all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Yearly Recycle IT collect from thousands of organizations in Dublin and surrounding areas. Services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland, with support from South Dublin County Council, South Dublin Country Partnership, Pobal and the Irish Government.

Recycle IT is authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities in the Eastern Midlands Waste Region.

Recycle IT as a social enterprise is part-funded through the Community Services Programme operated by Pobal. Any income earned is used to finance operations which include the provision of training and employment opportunities.

Recycle IT – Award Winner

Community Electrical & Metal Recycling

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Climate change, Collections, Dublin, metal, News, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

Free Recycling for Community/Charity Organisations:

One of the ongoing challenges for managers in the community, charity, and voluntary sectors is how to effectively manage space while safely removing and recycling surplus or redundant equipment, including metal, electrical, and electronic items.

These items can range from everyday objects like kitchen appliances, lamps, light bulbs, and batteries to office and IT equipment such as computers, monitors, cables, keyboards, photocopiers, servers, chargers, and even metal cabinets or storage racking. The list is really endless and once it builds up it takes up resources.

Free Mixed IT Equipment for Recycling
Mixed IT Equipment for Recycling

Recycling is crucial to our world today and taking small steps can have significant benefits for the environment. By taking a lead you can ensure recycling becomes a natural and important part of your organization’s life.

Finding a Solution 

Organizations sometimes need to find a recycling service which, can offer a safe, timely and environmentally friendly recycling solution. Nonprofits often run on tight budgets. Free recycling programs reduce safe disposal and collection costs, leaving more money available for programs, staffing, or community services.

Recycle IT offer this service and collection is free to charities and community groups. Over the last year, we have worked with hundreds of schools, training, community, parish and not-for-profit organizations across Dublin and surrounding areas to collect and recycle tonnes of equipment. This service is central to the values and culture of our organization and our staff team is delighted to support it.

Items for Recycling

Our Work

With more than 20 years of experience and conveniently located just off the M50, Recycle IT offers an easy way to responsibly recycle dual-purpose electrical equipment from both homes and small offices. You can drop items off while you’re passing by, or arrange a licensed collection for added convenience.

Many items are accepted free of charge. However, certain commercial equipment—such as photocopiers, networked printers, display fridges, or larger electrical and metal production equipment—may be subject to a recycling fee. For more details, feel free to call us or send a photo of your items, and we’ll get back to you promptly.

Recycling helps keep usable materials out of landfills, conserves resources, and lowers pollution. Nonprofits can contribute to broader community sustainability goals without additional expense with our free recycling collection service.

Free Collection Service

Our experienced teams provide a friendly and professional recycling service to charities and civil society organisations in Dublin and surrounding areas and we collect directly from a clear, accessible area in your building and ensure the safe recycling of your items. For charity organisations outside collection areas, we are happy to accept drop-offs. Just give us a call in advance.

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Many items collected are broken down into their component parts for processing into new raw materials. Our team can provide affordable physical destruction of hard disk drives and breakdown of other IT equipment upon request.

Our team will also collect items from staff or volunteers as part of any charity collection so please encourage your team to bring along old or damaged electrical items from home!

For further information or to book a collection just call or email us.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is a not-for-profit social enterprise providing a community collection service for all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Yearly Recycle IT collect from thousands of organizations in Dublin and surrounding areas. Services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland, with support from South Dublin County Council, South Dublin Country Partnership, Pobal and the Irish Government.

Recycle IT is authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities in the Eastern Midlands Waste Region.

Recycle IT as a social enterprise is part-funded through the Community Services Programme operated by Pobal. Any income earned is used to finance operations which include the provision of training and employment opportunities.

Recycle IT –Sustainability Award Winner 2025

Recycle Metal Now!

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

Every Day Life:

Metal is part of almost everything we use every day. It is in our food cans, kitchen tools, electronics, cars, bikes, scooters, gardening tools, and buildings. When these items reach the end of their life, the metal inside them is still valuable. Instead of throwing it away, we can recycle it and use it again. Metal is one of the most useful materials to recycle, and doing so makes a real difference for the environment and the economy.

One of the most important things to know is that steel, iron, aluminum, and copper can be recycled again and again without losing its quality. This means it does not weaken or wear out during the recycling process. Materials like aluminium and steel can be melted down and turned into new products over and over. Because of this, metal is one of the most sustainable materials we have.

Metal for Recycling

Office Metal / Storage Metal – Recycle IT

Facts

Recycling steel, iron, aluminum, and copper saves a huge amount of energy. For example, recycling aluminium uses up to 95% less energy than making it from raw materials. Steel recycling can save around 60–70% of the energy compared to producing new steel. These energy savings help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are a major cause of climate change. Using recycled metal also means we need less mining, which protects natural landscapes and reduces pollution.

There are many types of metal we can recycle at home and in our communities. Common items include aluminium cans, steel food cans, foil wrap and foil trays (if clean) can all be placed in the Green Bin.

Larger items such as washing machines, ovens, bicycles, and even furniture like steel table legs or office chairs can also be recycled. Electrical items often contain valuable metals like copper, aluminium, and steel, so they should always be taken to proper recycling centres.

Metal for Reuse

Some facts help show just how powerful recycling can be. Recycling one aluminium can saves enough energy to power a television for a few hours. Steel is one of the most recycled materials globally, with high recycling rates in many countries. Aluminium is also widely recycled and can return to shop shelves as a new can in as little as 60 days.

  • The metal recycling industry in the European Union offers 310,000 green, local, and non-outsourceable jobs across all Member States. Source: European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC). 
  • Ireland achieved a 58% recycling rate for metal packaging in 2021.
  • According to 2023 data, approximately 357,947 tonnes of metal were recycled, largely related to construction and demolition activity.
  • You can identify metal types using a magnet; steel is magnetic, while aluminum is not.
  • Roughly 40% of the world’s copper demand is met using recycled material.
  • Recycling steel reduces related CO2 emissions by 58% compared to primary production.
  • A single computer contains around 1.5 kg of copper, making electronics recycling highly valuable.
  • The automotive industry is the largest consumer of recycled scrap metal.
  • 91% of metals from end-of-life vehicles were recycled.
Mix of Recycling

Best Use

You can learn to identify metallic substance at home. A simple magnet test works well—steel is magnetic, while aluminium is not. This can be a fun and educational activity for children, helping them understand recycling in a hands-on way. Knowing what materials you have makes it easier to sort and recycle correctly.

It is important to remember that metallic materials are limited resource. Metals come from ores in the ground, and mining them takes time, energy, and effort. By recycling, we make better use of what we already have instead of constantly taking more from the earth. This helps protect natural resources for future generations.

Another benefit of metal recycling is reducing landfill waste. Metallic items that end up in landfill can take a very long time to break down. By recycling them instead, we reduce the pressure on landfill sites and prevent harmful substances from affecting soil and water. Clean recycling habits can make a big difference in keeping our environment safe.

Steel Chairs for Recycling

Change

Remember, there are simple changes we can make to improve how we use metal. For example, choosing reusable containers instead of disposable foil trays can reduce waste. When metal items do break or wear out, we should always think about recycling them instead of throwing them away. Many recycling centres accept a wide range of metal items, and some even offer collection services for larger appliances.

Working together as a community can make metallic recycling even more effective. Families, schools, and workplaces can all play a role by collecting and sorting metal waste properly. Small actions, when done by many people, add up to a big impact.

In summary, metal is too valuable to waste. It can be recycled endlessly, saves large amounts of energy, reduces pollution, and supports jobs. By recycling metal items—from small cans to large appliances—we help protect the environment and make better use of our resources. Next time you are about to throw away something made of steel stop and think: can it be recycled instead?

About

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 for WEEE Recycling with permit details available here.

Aluminum for Recycling

Generating Electronic Waste!

On By JMCEIn Climate change, Collections, Computer Recycling, Dublin, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Electronic Equipment, Green Technology, IT Equipment, Social EnterpriseLeave a comment

The Statistics:

Statista reported in 2025, that every person in the world generates on average around 8 kilograms of electronic waste per year worldwide. However, there are significant regional differences, data from the latest E-Waste Monitor shows: Europe leads the way with around 17 kilograms of electronic waste per inhabitant, while each person in Africa generates only 2.5 kilograms.

At the same time, Europe has the highest recycling rate at 43 per cent. Asia and Africa have the most catching up to do, with e-waste recycling rates of 12 and 1 per cent respectively.

Only just under a fifth of the electronic waste generated worldwide is currently officially collected and recycled. The remaining quantities of electronic waste were collected unofficially, partially recycled or disposed of as residual waste and sent to landfill.

Statista E-waste Statistics shared by Recycle IT
Statista E-Waste Generated

This gap between official and unofficial collection and recycling statistics varies greatly between different regions.

Recycle Safely

If you want or need an official collection of waste IT equipment and your located in Dublin, Ireland, Recycle IT can help. Our team can accept all types of IT equipment from homes, businesses, schools, public bodies, charities and community groups, all for safe and authorised recycling.

This includes old computers, laptops, printers, monitors, phones, cables, chargers and other electronic devices. Instead of throwing these items away, Recycle IT makes sure they are handled in a responsible way that protects the environment.

Many electronic devices contain harmful materials like lead and mercury. If these are not disposed of properly, they can damage soil and water. Recycle IT helps prevent this by using approved recycling methods. Their processes follow strict rules and standards to ensure safety and environmental care.

Mixed IT and Electronic Equipment for Recycling - Recylce IT
Mixed IT and Electronic Equipment for Recycling – Recylce IT

Manage Data

Another important benefit is data protection. Old devices often store personal or business information. Recycle IT ensures that all data is securely destroyed before recycling begins. This gives people peace of mind that their information will not be misused.

Recycle IT also helps reduce waste. By recycling materials like metal, plastic, and glass, fewer raw materials need to be taken from the earth. This saves energy and reduces pollution. It also supports a more sustainable future.

The service is simple and convenient. Individuals and businesses can drop off their equipment or arrange collection. Everything is handled professionally from start to finish.

Mixed IT and Electronic Equipment for Recycling - Recylce IT
Mixed IT and Electronic Equipment for Recycling – Recylce IT

In Summary

Recycle IT provides a safe, authorised, and environmentally friendly way to dispose of IT equipment. It protects both people and the planet while making recycling easy for everyone. Click here to see lists and PDF files of what can be recycled safely.

Our community recycling activities help to provide jobs and training through safe e-waste recycling. People learn useful skills, build experiences, work in teams all while protecting the environment. Our team work supports communities across Dublin and surrounding areas, while helping colleagues to grow and develop.

About

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 for WEEE Recycling with permit details available here.

Recycle IT Logo
Recycle IT Logo

Sustainable Easter Tips for a Greener Celebration

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

Celebrate Simply:

In Ireland, Easter is a time of joy, family, and celebration, brighter days with summer not far away —but much like other times of celebration, it can also create a lot of unnecessary waste. This year, why not make a few simple changes to celebrate more sustainably?

Try reusing cardboard egg boxes for crafts is fun, creative, and eco-friendly. You can make models, decorations, or toys while reducing waste, saving money, and helping the environment at the same time.

Cut boxes into small cups to make bunnies or chicks, paint them, or turn them into decorated eggs. You can also use them to plant seeds, sort small items, or play colour games. When you’re finished, the cardboard can still go in the green recycling bin.

Change

Start by rethinking Easter packaging. Choose chocolates and treats with minimal or recyclable wrapping or support local producers who use eco-friendly materials. Better yet, consider homemade treats—they’re personal, delicious, reduce packaging waste and everybody in the house can lend a hand.

You can choose to ignore holiday trends. This includes avoiding web shops and high street stores selling decorations. Limit your social media exposure and focus on simplicity, keep spaces functional, and remind yourself decorations are costly, time consuming to buy, display, remove and store. They are not necessary for enjoyment or celebration.

Surplus Eggs

If you’re expecting lots of chocolate eggs as gifts, don’t let them go to waste once you’ve had your fill—incorporate them into desserts or cakes afterward. Leftover chocolate eggs are great for fun treats! Melt them for yummy hot chocolate, bake them into brownies or cookies, or make easy no-bake snacks like cornflakes nests or fridge cakes.

For Easter baskets, swap small chocolate eggs and single-use plastics for shredded paper, fabric scraps, or even reusable cloth and include gifts that last longer, like books, plants, or experiences instead of chocolate and disposable toys.

Finally, remember to recycle properly and compost food waste where possible. Small changes can make a big difference.

This Easter, celebrate thoughtfully—less waste, more meaning. 🌸

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.

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

Recycling Radiators and Heaters

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Heater Recycling:

Safely recycling household radiators helps protect the environment and recover valuable materials. Old radiators often contain metals that can be reused, reducing waste and saving resources.

Radiators are typically made from metals that conduct heat well, allowing them to efficiently warm a room. The most common materials include:

1. Cast Iron
Older radiators are often made from cast iron. They are heavy, durable, and hold heat for a long time even after the heating is turned off.

2. Steel
Many modern radiators are made from steel. They heat up quickly, are lighter than cast iron, and are widely used in homes today.

Cast Iron Radiator

3. Aluminium
Aluminium radiators are lightweight and heat up very quickly. They are also highly recyclable and energy-efficient.

4. Copper and Brass (inside components)
Some radiators and heating systems use copper or brass parts, especially in pipes, valves, or older radiator designs.

Updating Heating Systems

According to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), home heating typically accounts for about two-thirds of annual household energy bills, with most of the costs occurring during the winter months.

Many people are now trying to reduce the amount of energy used in homes to save money, lower the carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner, greener environment which is crucial to living safely on earth in the future,

Old Household Radiator

Over a lifetime, all types of appliances age and work less efficiently. This will have an negative effect on energy efficiency and energy costs. This leads us to believe old radiators are less efficient than newer ones. Some reason why include:

Less Energy Efficient – Older heaters and radiators often use more energy than modern systems, leading to higher heating costs.

Slow Heating Time – Traditional radiators take longer to heat up compared to newer, high-efficiency models.

Heat Retention – Cast iron radiators retain heat for a long time, even after being turned off, making them energy-efficient in certain situations.

Uneven Heat Distribution – Older radiator systems may create hot and cold spots in a room due to inefficient circulation.

Energy Waste from Poor Insulation – Heat loss can occur if pipes and radiators are not properly insulated, reducing overall heating efficiency.

New models are designed with the latest technology with energy efficiency prominent in peoples mind when choosing new heating systems. Homeowners are replacing old heating systems with newer and increasingly efficient systems meaning old heating equipment is discarded but radiators and heaters can be safely recycled.

Recycling your Home Heating Radiators

If your old household radiators are faulty, broken or being replaced with heating systems to help reduce environmental harm, it’s worth noting the old radiators can be recycled.  Before doing anything, you will most likely need to remove the radiators from the walls and empty the radiator of water and debris. Then you can safely recycle as many as you have.  You can drop the items free to Recycle IT where the team accept cast iron and stainless-steel radiators, tubes, pipes and more.

Electric Heater

Recycling Electric Radiators

There are certain things to consider when recycling old electric radiators. Electrical equipment that isn’t recycled or disposed of correctly can end up in landfill sites all over the world causing environmental and health concerns. Electric equipment like heaters contains hazardous substances that will leak. This then contaminates local water and soil.

What to do?

Recycle IT are happy to accept radiators, small heaters, and air heaters at our recycling centre where they are recorded by weight and sent for further processing and metal breakdown in Ireland.

Electric Storage Heater

Recycle IT accept electric, old filled pure metal heaters and radiators of all sizes. They might have been fixed to a wall or mobile depending on your needs. Examples of electric heating and radiators are listed below, and all can be safely recycled.

Recycle IT accept

  • Storage heaters*
  • Panel heaters
  • Fan Heaters
  • Convection radiators
  • Infrared radiators
  • Oil-based electric radiators
  • Wall mount heaters
  • Wall mount radiators (oil or water).
  • Metal pipes and valves

*Recycle IT will accept storage heater bricks for recycling. The bricks are usually part of an older type of storage heater and should be removed from each storage heater before colleciton – for safety reasons. (Please see the photo below).

Recycling for Good

Black Electric Heater Home of Office

If you look at the electrical equipment including heaters which you use in your home today chances are that they contain at least some materials that can be recycled into something new.

The steel from your heater casing can be melted down and turned into machine parts, metal frames or new heaters. Aluminium is another metal that can be reused. The plastic surrounds can be turned into bags and stationery. Even the circuit boards contain small amounts of certain metals like silver, platinum, and palladium. So, they are really worth recycling for reuse!

Remember many radiators are almost 100% recyclable metal so the Recycle IT team are happy to accept. Heaters also have metal and electrical parts. They can be safely recycled for reuse at our recycling centre.

Storage Heaters

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 for WEEE Recycling with permit details available here.

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Irelands Circular Economy Strategy

On By JMCEIn Awards, Climate change, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Green Technology, News, Social Enterprise, sustainabilityLeave a comment

Wasting Less, Reusing More

The Circular Economy Strategy 2026–2028 launched on 24 February 2026 and sets out how Ireland will reduce waste, reuse more materials and support a more sustainable economy.

Ireland’s Circular Economy Strategy 2026–2028 is a plan to help the country waste less and use resources better. Right now, we mostly follow a “take–make–throw away” model.

Circular Economy Strategy 2026–2028

This strategy aims to move Ireland towards a system where materials are reused, repaired, and kept in use for as long as possible.

What the strategy wants to achieve

  • Use more recycled materials: Increase Ireland’s circular material use rate to 12% by 2030.
  • Grow the economy in a smarter way: Use fewer new raw materials and make better use of what we already have.
  • Support businesses and jobs: Help Ireland become a leader in sustainable design, manufacturing, and new circular business ideas.
  • Be fair to everyone: Make sure communities and workers benefit from these changes.
  • Help people make greener choices: Make sustainable living easier and more affordable.
  • Support local councils: Help communities create local reuse and recycling projects.
  • Use digital tools: Encourage businesses to track products and materials better using tools like digital product passports.
Circular Economy Strategy 2026–2028

Why this matters

The Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 supports Ireland’s move towards reducing waste and keeping materials in use longer. European laws also support this shift.

The strategy focuses on key areas like construction, farming, retail, packaging, textiles, and electronics. These sectors will work on reducing waste and increasing repair and reuse.

In 2024, a national study called the Circularity Gap Report Ireland found that only 2.7% of materials used in Ireland come from recycled sources. That means over 97% come from new, raw materials. The report shows that Ireland still relies heavily on a wasteful system — but it also shows that moving to a circular economy could reduce carbon emissions, strengthen the economy, and improve long-term security.

In simple terms, this strategy is about wasting less, reusing more, cutting carbon, and building a stronger, fairer Ireland for the future. Get the report here.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is the only Community Electronic Recycling Social Enterprise in Dublin providing a community collection service for all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Recycle IT offers collection services to homes and organisations across Dublin and surrounding areas each year collecting a range of WEEE including monitors, televisions and much more. If your a school, college, charity or community group based in Dublin or a surrounding area we invite you to contact us about our FREE colleciton service.

Our award-winning services are supported by South Dublin Country Council, and South Dublin Country Partnership and provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. We are authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authority.

Visit our website for further details or learn more about reuse month here

Recycle IT 2025 – Circular and Social Enterprise Awards

Moving Tips – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

On By JMCEIn Awards, Climate change, Collections, Computer Recycling, Dublin, Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

Moving House, Apartment or Office

According to the Central Statistics Office, in 2022, 265,098 people moved home in Ireland, with 29% of movers changing counties and 5% of residents moving to a new property, Dublin city and suburbs was the area with the highest proportion of movers (30%) within or to the area.

Moving home is widely considered one of life’s most stressful experiences. It often appears alongside events like job changes and major life transitions in surveys about stress. There’s a lot to juggle at once — packing, paperwork, deadlines, costs, and the emotional side of leaving a familiar place — so it’s no surprise many people feel overwhelmed.  

They surveyed 2000 people who had moved home over a three year period revealed 61% of those surveyed placed the ordeal at the top of their stress list, so it’s true, moving is stressful. Source: E. ON.

Legal & General conducted a seperate survey related to the motivation and pressure of moving. They report; almost half of respondents (47%) experienced increased stress levels because of moving.  41% of adults experienced anxiety, sleep deprivation (31%) and arguments with their partner (25%). One key stress-inducing factor was time, with 46% of home buyers having to wait between three and five months to complete their move.

Stress Points

Some of that stress might be caused by the fact that removal firms unusually work out the cost for your move by the volume of items that you have to transport to your new location.

Reducing your volume prior to the move should save you money and creates an opportunity to de-clutter through reuse or recycling. In fact, it creates a wonderful opportunity to list and remove items that are broken or unneeded. It’s an excellent motivator to share unwanted items with others or recycle items no longer required.

It’s a good idea to start with storage areas such as the spare rooms, the attic, basement, garage or store in the weeks before your move, as removal teams will want to do a pre-move checklist of your belongings. This helps determine how much stuff needs to be moved and gives an idea of wants involved in moving!

What to Recycle

People are still surprised by the number of objects that can be recycled. Recycling goes way beyond the glass, plastic, paper, and tins that your waste company collects. Commonly recycled items include furniture, clothing, electrical goods, batteries, bulbs, or old toys. home-office equipment, metal cabinets or lockers.  These can all be recycled prior to moving.

2019 moving a cooker
Moving / Recycling Electrical Equipment

Recycled appliances like phones, kettles, cables, dryers, computers, servers or washing machines can be repurposed or their components can be removed and converted into new products.

Recycling allows home movers to clear out old items and reduce the cost of the removal, protect our environment and conserve natural resources. Remember this logic can be applied to moving from any location including an office, warehouse, doctor’s surgery or shop.

10 Moving Tip

Old Storage Heater for Recycling
  1. In the weeks and days leading up to your move, use up perishables including food and cleaning products and recycle plastic containers before your moving date.
  2. All electronics and electrical equipment (e.g. computers, toasters, heaters or kettles) contain some precious metallic elements like gold, silver, copper, and aluminium that can be reused. Recycling these items saves valuable new resources.
  3. Petrol, paint, and oils should be disposed of before moving home. Many removal companies will not move your petrol lawnmower if it is not emptied of all petrol and oil and paint are heavy and will cost you money to move.
  4. Fuel such as coal or oil should be included in the lease, house sale or used well in advance of moving.
  5. Kids’ toys, clothes or bikes can be offered to charity shops, social enterprises, family shelters or housing projects. If damaged they are recycled at civic amenity recycling centres. Some recycling centres accept a range of items manufactured from plastics, metals, and wood.
  6. Following your move, you have lots of packing boxes. The boxes may be supplied by moving company so they can be given back. If not the boxes are most likely to be made from recyclable materials, so they should be able to be added to your paper recycling bin. If you have a large number that will not fit, they can be taken to your nearest civic amenity site.
  7. Take pictures of wire connections on electronic equipment such as computers, printer and wireless router as it will help you set them up at your new home.
  8. Label boxes by room and number them to ensure you have them all on arrival at your house.
  9. Make sure you have lots of help at hand to pack and lift boxes and equipment.
  10. Finally, there may be items that you wish to dispose of but it may not be easy to find a recycler! Here are 10 community-based organizations that can help to reduce your belongings before you move.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is an award-winning, not-for-profit, social enterprise established in 2003 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.

For more information about Recycle IT please click here.

Sustainable Business Impact Award Winner 2025

 

 

Cleaning Up E-Waste

On By JMCEIn Awards, Climate change, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Green Technology, Plastic, Social Enterprise, sustainabilityLeave a comment

Process that transforms Hazardous Plastic

For many years, electrical and electronic waste (also known as e-waste) has been building up across Europe and around the world.

A lot of this waste includes plastics that contain chemicals such as flame retardants. While these chemicals are important for fire safety, they have made plastics very difficult to recycle. Because of this, much of this plastic has been treated as hazardous waste and sent for disposal instead of reuse.

PLAST2bCLEANED machinery

© PLAST2bCLEANED

A new project – PLAST2bCLEANED

This helpful project has developed a new recycling method that safely removes these harmful chemicals from plastic. This makes it possible to recover clean, high-quality plastic, as well as valuable materials like bromine and antimony trioxide. This supports Europe’s goal of creating a circular, closed-loop recycling system.

Instead of shredding plastic into lower-quality material, the process uses heat and special solvents to fully dissolve the plastic. The harmful additives are then separated out, leaving behind clean plastic that can be reused again and again in manufacturing.

Based in the Netherlands, the PLAST2bCLEANED project shows real progress in reducing environmental damage and lowering Europe’s reliance on imported raw materials, especially antimony*, which is considered a critical resource.

* Antimony is a metalloid, which means it has properties of both metals and non-metals. Antimony is utilized in various applications, including:

  • Alloys: It is commonly added to lead and tin alloys to improve their properties, making them suitable for use in batteries, solders, and bullets.
  • Flame Retardants: Antimony trioxide is a key component in flame retardants used in textiles and plastics including plastics use in electrical products.
  • Semiconductors: It is used as a dopant in semiconductor devices, enhancing their electrical properties.

New EU Regulation

A new era of EU regulation is changing how products are made and recycled. New rules now require manufacturers to use more recycled materials, including valuable substances like bromine and antimony.

Digital Product Passports will also track how clean and recyclable materials are over a product’s lifetime. At the same time, the EU wants to recycle more of its own critical raw materials to reduce reliance on imports.

Technologies like PLAST2bCLEANED will play a key role in supporting a circular economy.

Digital Product Passport

Read more at: Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), and Critical Raw Materials Act

Original post shared by Directorate-General for Environment: Visit here.

About Recylce IT

Recycle IT is an award-winning, not-for-profit, social enterprise established in 2003 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.

For more information about Recycle IT please click here.

Sustainable Business Impact Award Winner 2025

Gaming Consoles – Recycle Safely

On By JMCEIn Climate change, Collections, Computer Recycling, Dublin, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Family, News, Social EnterpriseLeave a comment

Best Selling

Just over 30 years ago, on September 9, 1995, the original PlayStation made its debut in North America, ringing in an era of gaming success for Sony. The chart below from Statista shows, the original PlayStation is the fourth best-selling home console of all time, beaten only by the PlayStation 4, the Nintendo Switch and its own successor, the PlayStation 2, which sold 160 million units over its lifetime. Source: Statista Research Department.

Benefits

Did you know there are benefits to playing videogames? A National Institutes of Health study of nearly 2,000 children found that those who reported playing video games for three hours per day or more performed better on cognitive skills tests involving impulse control and working memory compared to children who had never played video games. Other reported benefits include improved problem-solving skills and logic, increased hand-to-eye coordination, greater multi-tasking ability and faster and more accurate decision-making.

Photo by JESHOOTS.com on Pexels.com

Generally games consoles are devices designed for the sole purpose of playing video games usually at home. A games console is really a computer used to play video or virtual games, on a TV or monitor. Some devices are very portable and are handheld with screens.

Some Facts

Ireland’s total video games revenue was €397m in 2024 and it is expected to reach €503m by 2029. Social and casual gaming (online gaming) totaled €180m in 2024 and will rise to €240m in 2029 with a 5.9% CAGR. A paradigm shift in Ireland’s video games market will come in 2029, when social/casual gaming revenue will overtake traditional gaming (physical gaming on PCs and games consoles)

There are nine console generations, with the current leading providers being Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo with the Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch used to play games like FIFA 22, Farming Simulator 22 and Minecraft. You can also watch Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney Plus on your games console.

Games Console, Controllers and Games – Recycle IT

Games are either downloaded directly onto the device via the internet online store or inserted into the device as a disc or card.

Many game consoles and games are aimed at children There is no official or recommended age for a child to have or use a games console. Video games are given age ratings similar to movies.

In general, using a game console with your children is fun. Adults can refamiliarise themselves with gaming, how new games work and how children are likely to use them. This can be a great way to show responsible and positive use of technology and show your child you are interested in what they do!

Reuse and Repair

After many years of fun, your game’s console may need to be updated with new software or hardware (if possible) or if damaged it can be repaired for reuse. There are several repair options available and they should be considered before saying goodbye to your console.

Saying goodbye isn’t always easy. After all, you likely spent many in-game hours together playing a starring role for your favourite sports team. Your console has likely brought you, your family and friends, many moments of joy and frustration.

However, the time will come to move on to a new console. With new console releases never far away you might consider a replacement. But before you do that, there are some important things that you need to do to stay cyber-safe (and keep your information and payment details safe).

Here are some steps to take before you sell, donate, or recycle your old console:

Games Console and Controller

Today many consoles are backwards compatible. This means that some, or most of the games from your old consoles should work with the new device To save your old games you can back your data up by:

  • Saving your data to an external hard drive.
  • Transferring your data from the old console to the new console by linking via a network.
  • Saving your data to a cloud service for your system.

Your gaming console can have personal information stored. Anything from email addresses to multiple credit card numbers to social media and cloud streaming accounts. If in the wrong hands, this can cause you lots of problems.

You can remove all your accounts from your console. In the setting menu, you can usually delete your credit card information, email addresses, social media links, or linked accounts. For purchased apps, you can sign out and manage your account information in your app settings.

A further option involves resetting the console back to when you first removed it from the box as new. Doing this reset will also make all of the information that was saved inaccessible through the user interface. You can usually do a reset in the settings menu.

Safe Recycling

Now that you have backed up your files and reset your console back to factory settings you may wish to dispose of the device in the waste or recycling bin. Please Don’t

Proper disposal including disposal of cables and chargers is important particularly if you didn’t try the above. Remember is also bad for the environment if you don’t recycle carefully

Games Console

Try the following

  • Reuse your console by gifting it to someone you know.
  • Donate your console to a local youth or community organisation,
  • Resell your device after wiping or destroying the hard disk drive / returning to factory settings.
  • Recycle your console instead of throwing it into the bin.
  • Recycle your console cables and related equipment at the same time!

Because electronics contain many damaging chemicals and reusable parts you should recycle safely at a dedicated e-recycling centre like Recycle IT. If you can’t or don’t wish to wipe the hard disk drive within the console before recycling, Recycle IT can help.

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

Recycle IT – Dublin City Social Enterprise Awardee 2025

Recycle IT Recognized for 2025 Sustainability Award

On By JMCEIn Awards, Climate change, Collections, Dublin, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, sustainabilityLeave a comment

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.

Social Enterprise in Ireland

On By JMCEIn Climate change, Dublin, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Family, News, Social EnterpriseLeave a comment

Social Enterprise – it’s moving ahead! 

A first-in-kind research by the Schwab Foundation’s Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship finds that there are approximately 10 million social enterprises worldwide, which collectively generate around $2 trillion in annual revenues, creating over 200 million jobs.

Please Buy Social

The social enterprise sector now outranks other mainstream industries by annual revenue, like telecoms and apparel. Moreover, social enterprises align their missions with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), notably in creating decent work, driving climate action and reducing poverty and inequalities.

Social enterprises, which make up 3% of all businesses globally, stand out from traditional businesses by placing a strong emphasis on creating social and environmental value along with economic value. Unlike conventional nonprofit organizations, social enterprises are self-sustaining through their business activities. They prioritize social impact over financial returns and reinvest their profits back into their mission. Source:  (François Bonnici, Director, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, Head of Social Innovation, World Economic Forum).

As of 2022, Ireland estimated there were 4,335 social enterprises employing 84,342 people, accounting for 3.7% of the workforce. These social businesses generated income estimated at EUR 2.34 billion in 2021 (Amárach/SERI/ILDN, 2023)

EU Social Enterprise

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has been actively involved in the European social enterprise and social economy agenda for more than 10 years and supports social enterprise growth and development as a key element of the European social model.

There are 2.8 million social economy enterprises, representing 10% of all businesses in the EU. Almost 13.6 million people – about 6.2% of the EU’s employees – work for social economy enterprises. On top of the paid workforce, social economy  mobilizes volunteers, equivalent to 5.5 million full-time workers. Characteristics included:

  • Membership – up to 160 million people in Europe are members of social economy enterprises (mostly retail, banking and agricultural cooperatives, as well as mutual societies offering services complementary to social security regimes)
  • Objectives – social economy enterprises contribute to the EU’s employment, social cohesion, regional and rural development, environmental protection, consumer protection, agricultural, third countries development, and social security policies
  • Size – social economy entities are mostly micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Today, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs is promoting, in particular, the development of social economy enterprises and organisations via the Single Market Programme
It is also particularly focused on supporting the development of social economy by implementing the European action plan on social economy (2021).

Irish Social Enterprise Sector

The estimated 4335 Social Enterprises operate in communities all over Ireland. Like social enterprises in other OECD countries, childcare; community infrastructure and local development; health, youth services, social care, and heritage, festivals, arts and creative industry account for 67.4% of the social enterprise sector.

Social Enterprise – A Growing Sector

Other areas of activity include sport and leisure; training and work integration; consultancy and support services; housing; food, catering and hospitality; environmental services; retailing; transport; financial services; manufacturing; and others.

Almost 77% of social enterprises function in more than one sector of activity. (Source: OECD 2023). In reality Social Enterprises offer essential services and tackle problems in society like food poverty, housing or environmental issues.

A 2012 report from Forfas defines social enterprise in Ireland as “an enterprise that trades for a social/societal purpose, where at least part of its income is earned from its trading activity, is separate from government, and where the surplus is primarily reinvested in the social objective.”

The report also lists the four categories under which social enterprises trade

  • commercial opportunities that are established to create a social return;
  • employment opportunities for marginalized groups;
  • economic and community development organisations;
  • services delivery organisations.

From experience, it can be said that these four categories almost always overlap and are shared objectives for many social enterprises,

Progress in the Sector

In 2016, the top country in the world for social enterprise action was recorded as the Canada, . Ireland ranked in second-last place on the list.

Word Map – Click to Enlarge

Over a 3 year period, Ireland moved from a near bottom ranking in 2016 to 36th place as it reported improvements in almost all categories. Social entrepreneurship gaining momentum, up 16 points to 17th place, while more social entrepreneurs can make a living from their work, up 17 spots to 21st place. Source: (Research by the Thompson Reuters Foundation, 2016 & 2019).

Social enterprise in Ireland is a growing, dynamic and vibrant space and is now supported by a national policy that commits to building awareness, growing and strengthening the sector, and achieving better policy alignment.”   Source: (Sheila Cannon, assistant professor of social entrepreneurship, Trinity College Dublin)

Some of the criteria used to decide if there is a favorable environment for social enterprise include:

  1. Conditions are favorable for social entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses
  2. Government policy supports social entrepreneurs
  3. It is easy for social entrepreneurs to get grant funding
  4. It is easy for social entrepreneurs to access investment (debt and/or equity)
  5. Social entrepreneurs can access the non-financial support they need (e.g. financial, legal and technical advice; access to markets and networks; coaching, mentoring and training)
  6. It is easy for social entrepreneurs to sell to the government
  7. It is easy for social entrepreneurs to sell to business
  8. It is easy for social entrepreneurs to sell to the public
  9. It is easy for social entrepreneurs to attract staff with the required skills
  10. The public understands what social entrepreneurs do
  11. Social entrepreneurs can make a living from their work in my country
  12. Social entrepreneurship is gaining momentum
National Economic and Social Council (NESC)

The role of social enterprises is growing, both on the island of Ireland and internationally. Social enterprise straddles the space between the national economy and local community, and plays an important role in providing services to marginalized groups and in disadvantaged areas, as well as creating and providing jobs, and contributing to innovative social and environmental initiatives. While much of the activity is at local level, social enterprises also contribute to the national economy. Source: (NESC Report Social Enterprise on the Island of Ireland 2023)

National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 

The Department of Rural and Community Development published Ireland’s first-ever Social Enterprise Policy in July 2019. The first National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2019 – 2022  focused on three key objectives:

  • Building Awareness of Social Enterprise;
  •  Growing and Strengthening Social Enterprise and
  • Achieving Better Policy Alignment.

In July 2024, Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys TD launched Ireland’s second Social Enterprise Policy ‘Trading for Impact’ the National Social Enterprise Policy 2024 -2027

Trading for Impact – Report Cover

‘Trading for Impact’ the second National Social Enterprise Policy details five key objectives:

  • Building Awareness of Social Enterprise
  • Growing and Sustaining Social Enterprise
  • Supporting the Green Transition
  • National and International Engagement
  • Impact Measurement.

With 57 concrete actions defined under these objectives, which will be implemented between 2024 to 2027. A ‘Stakeholder Engagement Group’ will oversee the delivery of the policy.

The National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland is part of a suite of policy initiatives from the Department of Rural and Community Development to support those who work with communities and disadvantaged groups.

Social Enterprise at Work

Recycle IT runs an electrical recycling business in the social economy sector with the aim of creating social, economic and environmental value. Our team offers recycling services for communities and the market. Any profits generated are used to support social objectives which include a range of community-focused services, internal training progressions and employment.

Profit is not shared with company directors and the organisations has no commercial stakeholders. Our board is voluntary and any profits are reinvested in recycling operations. Recycle IT is a not-for-profit Social Enterprise.

Our awarding-winning recycling service is friendly and effective, yet not glamorous. Work is hard but offers real opportunities for training and skills development. Teamwork helps support our goals and everyone involved “works to do good” while at the same time helping to allow financial sustainability. There is a focused approach to identifying and managing revenue streams to support the company to cover operating costs and reinvest for the future.

What’s Real about Social Enterprise

Social enterprise success generally means more social and/or environmental good with profits reinvested to deliver change.

Usually, social enterprises have more inclusive and diverse structures with women and men coming from a wide range of backgrounds to help start-ups, develop and lead organisations. Social enterprises work on a range of challenges using the tools of business to advance ideas and deliver services. Social Enterprise is more innovative and experiment more than traditional businesses as they work to fill gaps in the market that are of little interest to public sector bodies and profits are limited for the private sector companies. Finally, most work collaboratively and bring people on a journey of change.

Learn more about fiftheen Social Enterprises operating in Dublin: Click each one:

Third Space
Aspire Productions
House of Akina
The Yard @ Solas Project.
Recycle IT
Rothar.ie
Thrifty.ie
Walkinstown Green
Speedpak
Frontlinebikes
Clean Slate
Pace
Triest Press 
We Make Good
shareclub

Click here to learn about the impact on communities when you decide to buy from a social enterprise Below you will find a list of Irish Social Enterprise support organisations and networks.

Social Enterprise Supports

  1. Irish Social Enterprise Network
  2. Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI)
  3. Inner City Enterprise
  4. Carmichael Centre
  5. Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Academy
  6. Local Enterprise Office (LEO)
  7. The Wheel
  8. Irish Local Development Network (ILDN)
  9. Local Development Company Directory – Click here
  10. Community Resources Network Ireland (CRNI)
  11. Social Enterprise Supports Table – Click here
  12. Irish Government Supports – Click here
  13. Rethink Ireland
  14. Irish Local Authorities – Click here

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.

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

Read about social enterprise funding here.

Recycle IT – National Award Winners

Ireland’s Green Tech Revolution: Solar Panels and Vapes

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

Ireland Sees Surge in Electrical Device Sales

Ireland has experienced a notable uptick in the sale of electrical goods, with devices like vapes and solar panels particularly leading the surge. This trend signals a growing appetite among consumers for both convenience gadgets and sustainable technologies.

Photo by Kelly on Pexels.com

Vapes and solar panels have driven a 75 per cent increase in electrical device sales over the last five years and a total of 93 million household electronic items were purchased in 2024 – almost three times the volume sold in 2006 according to Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland, the country’s biggest e-waste recycling scheme.

“Each one of those 93 million devices contains valuable materials like aluminium, copper, lithium, cobalt,” said WEEE Ireland chief executive Leo Donovan. Based on the that fact these items should all be recycled safely.

Electric & Green Tech Boom

Sales of solar panels have jumped significantly, reflecting strong interest in home energy solutions—especially across suburban and rural areas. The popularity of smart home accessories, electric vehicle chargers, and battery storage systems is reinforcing Ireland’s move towards greener lifestyles. For example over 2.5 million solar panels have entered the market in the last five years, but with a life of 15 to 20 years, they won’t reach recycling centres for at least another decade.

Disposable Vapes: Convenience at a Cost

Disposable vapes have also seen sharp sales growth, sparking concern among public health and environmental experts. Containing lithium batteries, plastics, and chemical liquids, they pose serious waste challenges if not processed correctly .

Photo by Markus Winkler on Pexels.com

Action Needed Now:

Research from WEEE Ireland also shows the proportion of households hoarding unused devices rose from 22 per cent in 2023 to 29 per cent in 2025, highlighting a massive untapped opportunity for reuse and repair. “We need to move beyond recycling alone. Extending the life of products through repair and reuse must become the norm,” Mr. Donovan said.

The message is simple – take your old gadgets—especially batteries and plastics—to your nearest WEEE or e-waste recycling drop-off in Dublin. It’s quick, local, and significantly reduces pollution.

Recycle IT is a community-based social enterprise in Dublin that helps households, charities, community groups, schools, and businesses safely recycle thousand’s of electrical and electronic items (e-waste) yearly. Here’s how we can help you:

Recycle IT – Electrical Recycling

Services Recycle IT Offers:

Free Household Collection: Our team offer free door-to-door residents association collection of unwanted electrical items like toasters, kettles, laptops, TVs, and more in many Dublin areas.

Business & Organisations Recycling: Schools, offices, and community groups can book collection services for bulk electrical items—ensuring safe and secure disposal.

Drop-Off Recycling: You can drop off items at their facility in Clondalkin if preferred.

Data Destruction: Secure disposal of hard drives and other data-storing devices for privacy protection.

Community Awareness: We promote awareness of e-waste and provide tips on reducing, reusing, and recycling electronic goods.

Environmentally Friendly Practices: Recycle IT recycling for reuse as much as possible helping reduce landfill waste and conserve resources.

Let’s turn this sales surge into a sustainability win for Dublin and beyond!

Recycle IT – Mixed Electrical Equipment

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 and electronic equipment (WEEE). During 2018 Recycle IT offer to drop off and collection services to thousands of homes, and businesses across Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE which includes thousands of computers, cables, monitors, microwaves, cookers, dryers and TVs and much more.

Recycle IT services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT are supported by Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow.

Recycle IT – Approved and Verified