Category: sustainability

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

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

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

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.

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