Seismologists at Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) have released data illustrating the dramatic decrease in human activity as a result of COVID-19 lockdown measures. The restrictions on people’s movements have reduced noise levels and if you listen you can easily hear summer all around.

Since the lockdown started on the 28th March 2020 some Irish National Seismic Network (INSN) stations detected seismic noise below the noise recorded prior to the lockdown. The network recently confirmed the level of man-made noise in Ireland is up to three times lower than normal.

Worldwide social restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic has affected not only levels of air pollution, but also how much the ground beneath our feet vibrates.

Normally our day-to-day lives result in small ground movements. These ground movement can be caused by many activities and actions, examples include cars, trucks, trains, building sites, farming, recycling, concerts and more. These human-induced vibrations, called seismic noise vary with the level of human activity,” said Dr Martin Möllhoff, Director of Seismic Networks at DIAS.

The INSN as part of there work records and tracks ‘seismic noise (human-made ground vibrations) and ground motions from natural phenomena, such as earthquakes and volcanoes.

It’s important to track noise levels as changes can be annoying or displeasing or may disrupt the balance of human or animal life leading to aggression, hypertension and stress. Not only does the noise distract you, but it can be stressing you and you don’t even realize it. When outside and background noise is minimised or eliminated, the result can be a noticeably positive change in human productivity and behaviour.

Professor Chris Bean, Head of the Geophysics Section and Director of the School of Cosmic Physics at DIAS, said: “Such lowered seismic noise levels can enhance the capability of a seismic network to detect small earthquakes and are a testament to the high levels of compliance with COVID-19 movement restrictions.”

The Geophysics Section in DIAS operates the Irish National Seismic Network (INSN), with support from the Geological Survey Ireland The recent findings released by DIAS mirror findings from seismologists across the world. A press release about the observation was published on the 8th April 2020 can be accessed here:

For more details about the observations you can listen to this interview given by Martin Möllhoff on Tipp FM on the 10th April 2020: You will find the audio here

Further studies and information sources include Cornell University and the Federal Interagency Committee on Aviation Noise – click here

About Recycle IT

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

Recycle IT are supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development, Pobal and Dormant Accounts and authorised by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across in Leinster.

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

 

Global Change

Scientists across the world generally agree global warming if not curtailed will have a devastating effect on our planet. Climate change already occurring in most countries across the world even if we can’t see or feel the impacts just yet!

Human activities over the last century or more have helped increased carbon-dioxide emissions in driving up temperatures. Extreme weather and melting polar ice now appear to be some of the known effects.

Did You Know?

Did you know the earth has an average temperature of 15 degrees celsius? The temperature has been higher and lower over long periods of history and there are natural changes but scientist agree the temperature is rising and rising beyond the normal average and at a faster pace.

The global climate is the interconnected system of the sun, earth and oceans, wind, rain and snow, forests, deserts and savannas. This interconnection includes everything we as people do and decide to do. (have a think about that).

Facts – Temperature and Heat

Global warming is the slow increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere due to an increased amount of energy (heat) striking the earth from the sun. This energy (heat is being trapped in the atmosphere and not radiated back out into space.

The earth’s atmosphere has always acted like a good greenhouse to capture the sun’s heat. Without this natural and beneficial atmospheric greenhouse, the earth would be very cold. Global warming, however, is the equivalent of the suns heat getting trapped on the earth (over time) and not escaping into space. This extra heat causes all types of changes, some we know about and some we are yet to find out about! So to recap, too much heat getting trapped in our atmosphere or inside the greenhouse known as earth. Due to this, the temperature of the earth is going up faster than at any other time in history.

The 3 most common positions taken on global warming: (what the experts say).

(1) global warming is not occurring, therefore, climate change is not happening. 

(2) global warming and climate change are natural, cyclic events unrelated to human activity.

(3) global warming and related climate change is happening because of human activity.

Who to Follow

We follow the scientists who say; the current warming of the earth can be traced to the end of the 18th or beginning of the 19th century when coal first came into common use. This warming trend increased with our use of fossil fuels like petrol, diesel and gas as well as the introduction of millions of products made from oil like plastics. Who do you follow?

Just to say we at Recycle IT are not experts, but we are learning and you can learn more at NASA who offer on online knowledge-base. Met Éireann also provide information. You will find a link below.

 

Learn More

Met Éireann’s helps in measuring our past and current climate, and have a role in helping to predict Ireland’s future climate. They have access to data from the mid-nineteenth century onwards and can see a rise has occurred in the average global temperature and believe the rate of change in recent times cannot be explained by natural causes alone. You can learn lots more from Met Éireann here including access to videos explaining climate change.

Some Simple Steps to Help –

Reducing waste, recycling and composting are effective ways to decrease the generation of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane. They achieve benefits by

• helping save energy in the processing of materials for industrial and consumer use.
• reducing the flow of materials — especially food and other organic wastes — into landfills where anaerobic decomposition produces methane.

Recycling of metals can be an excellent way for homes and offices to conserve energy, e,g. using recycled aluminium scraps to make and remake aluminium cans takes 95% less energy than making aluminium cans from mined ore. Steel is another example, it takes 75% less energy to make recycled steel than steel made from raw iron ore. As a starting point, we suggest recycling all types of used metal, large, small, round, square, it matters little what it was used for, just gather it together and recycle! You will find a metal recycling list here.

Other steps include;

• Use less heating and air conditioning.
• Replace light bulbs with LED or CFL bulbs.
• Drive less and drive smart including car sharing.
• Use public transport.
• Use less hot water.
• Power off computers, lights, TV’s and game consoles.
• Plants some trees.
• Spread the word.

April 22nd is Earth Day – learn more at www.earthday.org

Posted by Recycle IT

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

Recycle IT are supported by Pobal and Dormant Accounts and authorised by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow.

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

 

Why we are featuring as Homegrown Heroes

Recycle IT is an award-winning social enterprise and community-based recycling initiative providing recycling services for waste electrical, electronic equipment (WEEE) and metal in Dublin and surrounding counties

The organisation was established as Clondalkin Community Recycling Initiative in 2002 to offer training and employment opportunities and reduce environmental harm created by the dumping of old appliances on brown and greenfield sites in Dublin.  As we developed over the years Recycle IT endeavour to be innovation, impactful, improve people’s lives and address societal and environmental challenges.

Recycle IT is governed by a voluntary board of directors and is committed to the standards outlined in the Governance Code Principles in Ireland.  Recycle IT have recently applied to the Charities Regulator to determine our suitability as a charity. We have recently extended our recycling permits across the Leinster region to support increased recycling.

Not for Profit Social Enterprise

Recycle IT operates with support from South Dublin County Partnership, Pobal, the Dormant Accounts Fund, South Dublin County Council and in partnership with WEEE Ireland. We also generate our own income to support operations.

As the organisation has developed it has offered an increased number of work experience, training and employment opportunities and now operates with over 25 people in full and part-time positions. Colleagues in these positions deliver community recycling services daily. They lift and move items daily for safe recycling and offer assistance with a smile.

Over the last 18 months, our team have archived an organisational milestone of safely recycling over 1100 tonnes of waste equipment received from householders, residents groups, schools, college charities, community groups and businesses.

Please Vote:

The staff team have been handpicked by Panadol Ireland as one of their Homegrown Heroes to shine a light on the work he does in his community. The campaign seeks to identify and recognise community heroes across Ireland who make a difference every day, who don’t let pain or discomfort get in the way of their commitment to their cause.

If you would like to support the work of Recycle IT visit the RTE Homegrown Heroes webpage and vote for us as your Homegrown Hero here. 

For more information on Recycle IT visit www.recycleit.ie

 

 

Appliance Lifecycle

Do you or your parents still use a washing machine, microwave or fridge purchased in the 1980s? A normal enough comment made about these older appliances is “they go forever”  

BBC News did some research and of all the washing machine models still washing the oldest was a Zanussi 918 having run for at least 31 years.  The oldest microwave was a National Panasonic Genius, bought in 1980 and still in service.

How about the fridge or washing machine you had delivered to your new home or apartment 4 or 5 years ago. They seemed to give up in no time. Very different experiences!

They really don’t build them like they used to? No, we don’t think so and the industry admits that the lifespan of white goods has fallen, but so has the price. So how long should a fridge or a freezer last, and is it worth spending a bit more on a better model?

Lifespan

The Whitegoods Trade Association says that over the past two decades electrical appliance prices have, in real terms, dropped largely due to consumer and retailer demand for lower-cost appliances. The reduction in prices has had several effects on the appliances themselves and a massive effect on the industry in general.

The average lifespan of appliances has dropped in relation to the prices. Now, over 80% of all washing machines sold cost under €600 while over 40% washing machines cost customers under €400 (approx.)

Cheaper household appliances (cheaper in real terms) really don’t have the same build quality, performance or longevity and therefore the average lifespan has dropped from over ten years to under seven years and it is not unusual for really low-cost appliances to only last a few years.

You can find out more about the prices of washing machines and other appliances here, which explains how much they have been devalued over time.

EcoDesign

There is a world-wide demand for more efficient products to reduce energy and resource consumption. The EU legislation on ecodesign and energy labelling is an effective tool for improving the energy efficiency of products. It helps eliminate under-performing products from the market and a supports competitiveness, innovation and greater environmental performance from new products sold in the European Union.

What Happens Next

In 2016 large household appliances like washing machines and dishwashers accounted for 2.5 million tonnes or 55.6 % of the total waste electrical and electronic equipment collected and recycled in the European Union. (Source Eurostat). Ideally, some of these items could have been repaired or reused prior to recycling!

But change is coming, As of 2021, all TVs, monitors, fridges, freezers, washing machines, washer-dryers, dishwashers and lighting products placed on the EU market will have to meet minimum repairability requirements aimed at extending their lifetime. These products will also be made easier to recycle thanks to improved design and, in the case of displays, the removal of halogenated flame retardants.

The new measures are part of the EU’s Ecodesign Directive, which removes the most wasteful products from the market, replacing them with units that do the same job with less energy and resources. The repairability requirements can help deliver even more savings by slashing demand for new products and carbon emissions linked to manufacturing, distributing, using and disposing of products.

How ecodesign benefits consumers

• Improves product information for consumers.
• Allows for informed purchase decisions.
• Allows performance comparisons across products (e.g. drying efficiency).
• Increases the need for products to be useful during operation.
• Easier to repair for reuse including the availability of parts.
• Energy-saving resulting in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Water use savings from efficient washing machines and dishwashers.
• Noise reduction in products such as dishwashers.

In Reality 

The policies should increase the energy efficiency of lighting products, common household appliances and industrial, electrical and electronic equipment. It also requires products to be easily reparability and recyclability in accordance with the EU’s Circular Economy Strategy. This should be good news for consumers and the environment but we will see in 2021 and after as we replace appliances!

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). Over a last number of years Recycle IT have offered a drop-off and collection service to tens of thousands of homes, communities, schools, charities, and businesses across Dublin and surrounding areas recycling a range of WEEE which includes thousands of computers, cables, monitors, microwaves and TV’s.

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

Visit our website for further details about recycling old electrical items or call 01 4578321 to learn more.