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 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 www.recycleit.ie
Old office equipment may seem worthless, but it still holds significant reuse and recovery value. Throwing both large and small electronic items into general waste bins has a well-documented negative impact on recycling systems and the environment, and it’s widely discouraged.
Electronic waste (e-waste) often contains hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can leak into soil and water when sent to landfill or released into the air when incinerated. At the same time, these devices contain valuable materials like copper, gold, and rare earth elements that are lost when they aren’t properly recycled.
Computer casings for recycling after parts removed
Recycle IT specializes in safe electronic collections and recycling in compliance with the WEEE directive. Whatever your electronic, electrical or pure metal disposal needs, our teams can help you with safe convenient disposal. We follow the principles of, reduce, reuse, recovery and recycle.
At Recycle IT you will find a team that is dedicated, socially driven and environmentally sensible. Our social enterprise specializes in compliant and permitted WEEE recycling and IT disposal, we can be seen daily collecting electronic, electrical and pure metal waste from a range of organizations and properties across Dublin and surrounding areas. Our work helps create real and valuable training and employment opportunities.
The removal of electronic waste comes with many stipulations and guidelines, with which we fully comply. For further details click here
Recycle IT – Recycling Cables
Collections
At short notice and within 3 to 6 working days our vehicles equipped with a friendly and reactive team, are available to carry out the collection and recycling of a variety of electronic equipment in our specialist WEEE recycling facility.
All your old equipment will be safely disposed of. If you have a particular requirement just let us know in advance. We can collect most items from easily accessible locations within your facility and take up a minimum of your time. Old toasters, kettles, cables and computers can be all collected at the same time!
WEEE for Recycling
Waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling includes:
Computer recycling, including safe breakdown & disposal.
Server and network equipment recycling.
TV/Monitor recycling & disposal.
Physical destruction of Hard Drives or sensitive equipment.
Laptop and printer recycling & disposal.
White goods recycling.
Audio goods recycling.
Testing and monitoring equipment.
Games consoles and electronic toys.
Businesses large and small can save time and hassle by engaging a professional, cost-effective reliable recycling service to collect your waste items for safe recycling. This year we have recycled for legal, accounting, bookkeeping, engineering, management, IT, construction and digital marketing services across Dublin.
We offer small businesses the opportunity to drop off free during the year. Keep an eye out for the dates!
Compliant with the Legislation
On removal of WEEE from your organisation, Recycle IT will provide you with documentation including a docket acknowledging the collection. Once the equipment leaves your premises you can be sure it will be dealt with responsibly. If your business needs additional documents for audit or environmental reporting please let us know and we will endeavour to help.
Recycle IT – Mixed WEEE Collection
All of our recycling work is carried out under legislation. Recycle IT is audited at regular intervals. WEEE recycling is carried out as outlined in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. You can read more at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website here.
Remember
Recycling electronic office equipment, such as computers, laptops, and servers, is crucial for both environmental and social reasons. In Dublin, our community-based social enterprise play a significant role in safely recycling these items.
When you recycle electronic office equipment, you prevent harmful materials like lead and mercury from contaminating the environment. Instead, these materials can be extracted and reused, reducing the need for mining and minimizing pollution.
IT Equipment for Safe Recycling
Recycle IT as a community-based social enterprises engage people in return to work training set around the recycling process, creating jobs and fostering a sense of environmental responsibility. By supporting this initiative, you contribute to the local economy and help build a more sustainable future for Dublin.
When dropping off your old electronics for recycling, ensure they’re handled by authorised facilities to guarantee proper disposal. Recycle IT offer convenient collections services, making it easy for you to do your part in protecting the environment and supporting your community.
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 www.recycleit.ie
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 Irelandfound 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
As we welcome 2026, Recycle IT is inviting residents’ associations, tidy towns groups, and community committees to take the lead in making your estate greener. We encourage associations to organise an early-year electrical and pure metal recycling collection, bringing together householders, families, friends, and neighbours to take part.
By working together as a community, we can significantly increase our electrical recycling rate per person. In 2023, this figure stood at just 9.51 kg per person — roughly the weight of nine electric kettles. Surely, as organised and engaged communities, we can do better than that!
Let your residents’ association be the catalyst for positive change in the New Year. Book a collection early, boost participation across your estate, and help set a higher recycling standard for 2026 and beyond.
With one in eight people in Ireland still dumping small electrical items in household bins we want to help you safely recycle any old, unwanted or unused electrical stuff from around the house. This includes kettles, cookers, TVs, washing machines, games consoles, batteries, phones, computers, metals, and electronic toys; the list really is endless.
Recycle IT work in partnership with Residents Groups across Dublin. Our teams can collect all types of household and small office waste electrical, electronic and pure metal equipment from residents. The collection is door to door, free and our teams collect weekly Monday to Friday.
Presenting Your Recycling for Collection
Once local residents know a collection is scheduled people can easily assemble old electrical, electronic and metal equipment and have it out and ready and out for collection by 9am on collection day. If people need help please do lend a hand to get their items out for colleciton or let our team know in advance?
Items for collection can be placed at the front of your home within reach of the pavement (e.g., in your drive) but not on the pavement so as to block access.
Your electrical waste should not be placed in refuse sacks or covered. Please ensure electrical and metal waste items are easily accessible. If items are hidden behind a locked gate or a parked car, we may not be able to see or collect your items. Our teams will accept electrical and metal waste at no cost once used in your home or small office.
You can click here for a list of items collected (PDF Files for electrical and metal items)
In the case of unforeseen circumstances such as poor weather conditions, vehicle breakdowns, roadworks or other incidents, we may be delayed, but we will do our best to keep groups updated and we will work to catch up throughout the day.
On request, we can enter homes at the ground floor level only. Residents should remain at a safe distance from our team. It is preferable if items for recycling are outside.
Working Together
Our authorised WEEE collections are offered in association with Residents’ Associations. Each group helps by providing details on the number of homes in the area, names of roads, and promotion of the event to householders through social media, email, leaflets newsletter etc. Recycle IT can provide further information on request.
Please note: Today our resident collections are provided free of charge to Residents’ Associations in South Dublin, Dublin City and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.
About Recycle IT
Recycle IT an award-winning community recycler wishes to build on Ireland’s recycling success story and help increase the 10.9 KG of waste electrical and electronic equipment collected yearly per inhabitant in Ireland. (recorded in 2017)
We are inviting resident associations and community groups including tidy towns to speak with us about arranging a FREE collection in your area over the coming months.
Our team will accept old household electrical items, and office electrical items alongside your garden power tools and pure metal equipment. We can also accept commercial appliances but do call in advance.
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. Recycle IT are an active member of Community Resources Network Ireland (CRNI).
To learn more about recycling electrical equipment please call Recycle IT at 01 4578321, email us or visit www.recycleit.ie
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.
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,
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.
Recycle IT 