The Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action meet in mid June 2024, to discuss the Circular Economy as it relates to Consumer Durables. Examples of consumer durable goods include vehicles, books, household goods (home electrical appliances, consumer electronics, furniture, musical instruments, tools, gardening tools, furniture, bicycles etc.), sports equipment, jewelry, medical equipment, toys and more.
The Group
Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Leddin (TD for Limerick City and the Green Party Spokesperson for Transport, Climate Action and Environment) said: “Consumer durables are goods designed to last a long time and are not intended to be bought very often. Development of a circular economy requires shifting Ireland towards a more sustainable pattern of production and consumption, particularly when it comes to consumer durables”.
Circular Economy
“The development of reuse, repair, recycling and sharing schemes, as well as circular design and business models, all have roles to play in reducing waste generated by consumer durables. As part of our examination of how the Circular Economy Act is working since it became law two years ago”, The Committee as part of it work will discuss these issues and related matters with stakeholder groups including social enterprises and organisation representing the community reuse and recycling.
CRNI were joined on the day by two board members, Bernie Connolly (Cork Environmental Forum) and Una Lavelle (Recycle IT, Dublin). The Rediscovery Centre, the National Centre for the Circular Economy in Ireland and CRNI member were also invited to the committee session to present their findings.
Una Lavelle CRNI Director and General Manager – Recycle IT
To learn more about the main points covered please click here or to view the The Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action session on Oireachtas TV please click here.
About Parliamentary Committees
Parliamentary committees play an important role in the business of the Oireachtas. They can receive submissions and hear evidence from interested parties or groups; discuss and draft proposals for legislative change; print and publish minutes of evidence and related documents; and require attendance of Ministers to discuss current policies and proposals for legislation.
There are four types of committees:
Standing committee
Joint committee
Select committee
Special committee (rare)
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.
Technology is now part of our everyday live. From home to offices, buses to boats, school and colleges, computers tablets, PCs severs, and related software are an indispensable part of our modern life. Add personal items like smart watches, mobile phones, virtual assistants, and robot vacuums and mowers and we are all are touched by helpful or essential tech.
The downside is the lifespan with some items breaking sooner than they should or people always wanting the latest and greatest meaning items become waste or e-waste which is a major concern for the planet we live on!
What is e-waste?
According to the European Union (EU), electronic and electrical waste, or e-waste, covers a variety of different products that are thrown away after use.
These include:
Large household appliances, such as washing machines and electric stoves
IT and telecommunications equipment (laptops, printers)
Consumer equipment (video cameras, fluorescent lamps) and photovoltaic panels
Small household appliances (vacuum cleaners, toasters)
Other categories, such as electrical tools and medical devices
The EU also say e-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the Europe and less than 40% is recycled. You can view the facts and figures in the infographic below.
You can use the infographic to find out how many kilos of electronic equipment have been collected per inhabitant in Ireland and other EU countries.
Recycling practices vary among EU countries. In 2021, Austria topped the EU countries in electronic waste collection, with an average of 15.46 kilos per inhabitant. In 2021, 11 kilos of electrical and electronic equipment waste were collected per inhabitant in the EU on average.
Why recycle electronic and electrical waste?
Cast off electronic and electrical equipment contains potentially harmful materials that pollute the environment and increase the risks for people involved in recycling e-waste. To counter this problem, the EU has passed legislation to prevent the use of certain chemicals, like lead.
The EU say, many rare minerals that are needed in modern technology come from countries that do not respect human rights. To avoid inadvertently supporting armed conflict and human rights abuses, MEPs have adopted rules requiring European importers of rare earth minerals to carry out background checks on their suppliers.
USB Type-C
Changes for Us
The European Commission presented a new circular economy action plan in 2020 that has as one of its priorities the reduction of electronic and electrical waste. The proposal specifically outlined immediate goals like creating the right to repair and improving reusability in general, the introduction of a common charger and establishing a rewards system to encourage recycling electronics.
USB Type-C will become the common charger for most electronic devices in the EU by the end of 2024. Laptops will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port by 28 April 2026.
The Commission presented a new proposal to promote repairing and reusing goods. Within the legal guarantee It would require sellers to repair products unless it is cheaper to replace them. Beyond the guarantee, it would provide rights to make repairs easier and cheaper.
The EU has adopted rules on the collection, treatment and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment to tackle the issue of the growing amount of electronic waste.
The Commission put forward a proposal for an update of the directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment to implement a ruling of the European Court of Justice concerning the scope of obligations of producers of photovoltaic panels (solar panels).
The EU council has now adopted these amendments into the EU law on waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Read more here.
Further updates will follow over the coming months. To reads more now please click here.
Repair and Reuse
Irish Statistics
The Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released 2022 statistics data related to the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) statistics for the whole of Ireland which documents household dual use B2C and commercial, professional B2B WEEE takeback.
The following key trends can be highlighted:
66,018 tonnes of WEEE were collected for treatment in Ireland in 2022, a decrease of 8% from the quantity collected in 2021.
61,806 tonnes of WEEE were recovered and 54,245 tonnes were prepared for reuse or recycling in 2022, a decrease of 8% and 9% respectively from the quantities in 2021.
Large equipment (e.g. Cookers, washing machines) accounted for 53.2% (by weight) and small equipment (e.g. Kettles, toasters) represented the next largest category accounting for 19.9% of WEEE collected.
Ireland met the EU recovery, recycling and reuse targets for all six categories of WEEE in 2022, they are temperature exchange equipment, screens, monitors, and equipment containing screens, lamp, large appliances, small appliances, and small IT.
The Irish national statistics show Ireland is in line with many European Member States but WEEE recycling volumes are not achieving 65% collection target.
Ireland 2023
WEEE Ireland Collection Results 2023
Recent figures in WEEE Irelands annual environmental report reveal consumers recycled a record-breaking 41,730 tonnes of electronic and electrical waste in 2023 – the equivalent of almost 200 forty-foot containers more than the previous year. Great News!
You all help by recycling over 15 million small appliances such as coffee makers, calculators, kettles and keyboards, along with the equivalent of 66 million used AA batteries were also handed back to make their way into the circular economy.
To view the full WEEE Ireland Annual Environmental Report for 2023 please click here.
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 collection regulations. Our permit details are available here.
Recycle IT – Community Recycling Initiative of the Year 2023
Today, one in eight people in Ireland continues to dump small electrical items in household bins. This new research by WEEE Ireland also suggests, the figure almost doubles among younger age groups, which are perceived as more environmentally conscious.
Small Battery Operated Vape – Dumped
The research survey reveals one in four 18-24-year-olds and one in five aged 35-44 get rid of common household electrical items such as smart watches, earbuds and blue tooth speakers in general waste bins.
Research
The survey, conducted by Empathy Research on behalf of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland go’s on to say, laptops, mobile phones, gaming devices, power tools and e-cigarettes are also being placed alongside other general waste bins, meaning these items can never be re-used or recycled. Simply, please don’t use the black or green bin to recycle electrical items and share this message with others in your home.
With many small personal devices now powered by small lithium batteries, there is an increased safety risk with fire as major concern for household waste collection companies receiving these items in bins.
Mixed Small Electrical Items
The low recycling rates for small electrics are echoed in global statistics, with the recent Global E-Waste Monitor revealing that less than one quarter (22.3%) of e-waste was properly recycled in 2022, falling sharply to just 12% for small devices.
Experience
Ireland has experience and a really good record for safely recycling larger household electrics like washing machines, tumble dyers, cookers fridges and other electrical appliances but this needs to be matched when it comes to smaller electricals. This will ensure the safe and efficient recovery and reuse of important materials contained in small electrical equipment.
By helping address these challenges you help reduce risks our environmental and public health and help support a greener, more sustainable future.”
To read more about the WEEE Ireland research please click here
About Recycle IT
Recycle IT is anaward-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
The Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards aim to support social enterprise startup and development in Dublin City. They are like a big celebration for social businesses that try to make the world a better place. These businesses aren’t just focused on making money to move forward; they also want to help people, our communities, and/or the environment.
Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards Logo
Imagine a competition where companies from Dublin show off their amazing ideas and projects that help the community or solve important problems. These could be things like creating jobs for people who might struggle to find work, activities to support young people or coming up with eco-friendly products that reduce waste.
Activities
Think about a coffee shop or cafe that hires people who might find it hard to get a job, like individuals with disabilities, people who are homeless and/or long term unemployed people. Or think about a company that sells eco-friendly services or products and uses its profits to support environmental causes. These are examples of social enterprises.
So, in simple terms, social enterprises in Ireland are businesses that do good while also making a living. They aim to tackle social or environmental issues while running a successful operation. It’s all about balancing profit with a purpose to create positive change in society.
Social Enterprise Loaf Catering – Café in Kilmainham, Dublin
The Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards recognize these social businesses for their vision, hard work and the positive impact they have on society. It’s a way to cheer them on and encourage communities and people to start their own social enterprises based on an identified need. So, it’s a win-win situation – businesses get recognition for their good deeds, and the community benefits from their efforts.
Formally – What is a Social Enterprise in Ireland?
1: A social enterprise is an enterprise whose objective is to achieve a social, societal or environmental impact, rather than maximizing profit for its owners or shareholders.
2: It pursues its objectives by trading on an ongoing basis through the provision of goods and/or services, and by reinvesting surpluses into achieving social objectives.
3: It is governed in a fully accountable and transparent manner and is independent of the public sector. If dissolved, it should transfer its assets to another organisation with a similar mission
To us, a social enterprise is a special kind of business with a big heart. Instead of just focusing on making money, they care a lot about helping people and/or making the world a better place. Really, it’s all about using a business model and people skills to make a positive impact in a specific area of need which is underserved.
The Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards were established by Inner City Enterprise (ICE) and Dublin City Council with the support of the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Dublin City in 2015. Each year, a fund of approximately €60,000 is distributed among innovative social enterprises.
To learn more please click here. To download the application form click here
In 2022 Recycle IT were delighted to receive a Dublin City Social Enterprise Award. The award showed we make a real difference and it boost our credibility in the eyes of customers, funders, and the community.
Overall, receiving a social enterprise award can help you elevate your social business to the next level, both in terms of impact and sustainability. It opens up new opportunities and resources that can fuel your mission and drive positive change in the world.
Recycle IT, are a social enterprise offering electrical, electronic and metal recycling. Services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT are supported by Pobal, the Dormant Accounts Fund, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Leinster.
For further details about our services call us on 01 4578321, email info@recycleit.ie or visit the Recycle IT website at www.recycleit.ie
Recycle IT at theDublin City Social Enterprise Awards2022
Recycling is an easy way to protect our environment and climate while ensuring the wellbeing of our community for the next generation. However, the success of recycling depends on the active participation of every member of the community including kids of all ages.
Homemade Bird Feeder
By everyone doing a little, we all can reduce the amount of waste that is deposited in the landfill or incinerated. Thinking about the reuse of materials made from recycled materials helps maintain the recycling circle and its part in the circular economy.
Reuse fosters creativity and innovation, encouraging individuals and communities to find inventive ways to extend the lifespan of products before finally recycling safely. Reuse promotes a culture of sustainability and responsible consumption, empowering people to make environmentally conscious choices in their daily lives
Eco-Friendly Reuse.
35 reuse and recycling tips
Use both sides of the page when writing or drawing
Give your kids or local schools part used printed paper for drawing
Bring your food to school or work using a reusable tubs
Books can be reused by donating them to libraries, schools, or community centers.
Rent or hire school books and other school supplies (yearly reuse)
Hire gardening tools that you only use occasionally
Reclaim your plastic bottle deposit by recycling for reuse.
Think about getting a sparkling water maker to reduce plastic bottles
Make a bird feeder by reusing any medium size plastic bottles you have at home.
Opt for low-energy light bulbs
Give your unwanted clothes a second life
Reuse and repair as much as possible – shoes, clothes etc.
Offer seasonal kids costumes to clothes to others as your kids grow!
Choose to buy bars of soap
Choose long life or durable products e.g. reusable razors or ink pens
Use rechargeable batteries in home appliances
Avoid unnecessary purchasing of occasion products, e.g. Christmas, Easter
Offer gifts, such as tickets for a show, sports event or concert leading to reduce material content
Choose eco-friendly products – read the labels
Buys product with less packaging
Buy regularly use products in bulk, e.g. canned and jarred products.
Reuse shopping bags
Use refillable products e.g. coffee, loss tea
Drink tap water from a reusable glass, cup or bottle
Prepared food at home for picnics while reusing flasks, tubs, knives, forks, and reusable carry bags
Choose fresh food rather than processed food, healthier and less packaging
Bake cakes and muffins instead of buying!
Limited home and office printing, share files over email or file sharing tools e.g. dropbox
Recycle ink cartridges – where you purchased your ink!
Bring a mug and glass to work to refill coffee, tea or water during the working day
Approach office supply companies about purchasing used office equipment
Cycle to work or college rather than taking the bus or car
Car share where distances are longer and where public transport is not accessible.
Take your uneaten food home from restaurants in a doggy bag.
Composite garden cuttings to create a natural fertilizer
The 4 Rs
In Ireland and across Europe, the focus on the 3 R’s has increased over recent years As recovery of resources through, reduce, reuse, repurposing and recycling has increased it has become increasingly important for consumers to take ownership and steps themselves to ensure products purchases can be reused, repurposed or recycled using accessible and economically sustainable solutions.
Recycle IT offer recycling opportunities to home and business customers for all types of electronics equipment. AT Recycle IT, recycling is available using free, drop-off, free community collections or through a cost-effective personal or business collection. Our team will accept any old household or small office electrical items alongside all types of metal and electrical or rechargeable garden equipment.
Recycle IT as a social enterprise works in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT is supported by Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office.
To learn more about recycling electrical equipment please call Recycle IT on 01 4578321, email us or visit www.recycleit.ie
Recycle IT 