Category: News

Waste Reduction Week 2018!

On By JMCEIn Awards, Dublin, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Electronic Equipment, Family, News, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

European Waste Reduction Week 2018

European Waste Reduction Week is run yearly and starts November 17th, 2018 running until Nov 25th This year Recycle IT want to encourage small organisations to go green for the week and longer.

What does Recycling mean?

Recycling means any recovery operation taking place after collection and by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes. It includes the reprocessing of organic material but does not include energy recovery and the reprocessing into materials that are to be used as fuels or for back filling operations.

European Waste Reduction Week 2018 Support by Recycle IT
European Waste Reduction Week 2018 Support by Recycle IT

Recycle IT have assembled some easy to use office waste reduction tips and ideas which don’t cost much and will save you money in the long run!

Create a paperless office? – step by step!

It may be time to consider the idea by simply saying no to paper usage. Firstly, identify for what purposes you must use paper and how you can avoid paper use. Once you make the lists for both, then be sure to clearly announce the policy with timelines for change. then find a champions in the office to offer encouragement. Every office has an environmentally responsible person!

If your organisation must use paper, try to keep paper usage and waste to a minimum by

  • Encouraging everybody in the office to edit documents on computers before printing.
  • Store and share all office files digitally.
  • Use both sides of a paper by setting up computers to automatically print on two-sided.
  • Reuse small paper pieces for short memos.
  • Stop using fax machines.
  • Send report via email and share meeting documents using PowerPoint.
  • Use al lighter weight papers in the office.
  • Reuse envelopes by putting a label over the old address.
  • Make use of electronic and voicemail and avoid paper mail wherever possible.
  • Take actions to decrease unsolicited mail.
  • Get a notice board or large screen to share information with colleagues
  • Reduce spacing and margins when printing documents. (fit more on the page)
  • Reuse, plastic sleeves, files and folders.
  • Edit mailing lists to avoid sending unnecessary letter or post cards.
  • Shredded paper can be recycled / repurposed as packaging filler for delivery boxes.
  • Setup a ‘what’s app’ group to share general office information.
2018 paper waste
Office – Paperless Office

Waste Reduction Tips

  • Although paper waste constitutes the largest portion of office waste, there are other types of waste which builds up over time so here are a few ideas!
  • Purchase products with less packaging or with no packaging at all.
  • Request that your office supplies be supplied in returnable containers and then return the emptied containers to the supplier on their next visit.
  • Ask the suppliers to take packaging back for reuse or to enhance the feasibility for them to recycle large quantities of waste.
  • Manage and reduce the number ink and toner cartridges purchased and used.
  • Rent equipment that you use only occasionally rather than investing and storing in the workplace.
  • Invest in high-quality everyday equipment that is durable, reusable and repairable.
  • Encourage colleagues to have reusable cutlery, plates, and cups at their desks.
  • Encourage staff teams to bring their lunch to work in reusable containers.
  • Where opportunity permits introduce a compost or brown bin recycling at work
  • Introduce waste education sessions to get staff buy in and keep staff updated on progress.
  • Select plant landscaping that requires low maintenance and produces little waste.

Office Equipment Recycling.

Recycle electronic equipment, batteries, plastic, metal cans, and beverage containers. Consider developing a partnership with a local recycler if your office generates electronic or electrical waste.  It might benefit both organisations!

ewaste 2018
Electronic Office Waste

Don’t allow old or unused electrical or electronic equipment take up space and collect dust. The sooner it is recycled, the quicker that valuable resources will be available for reuse, thus avoiding the mining of virgin raw materials.

Reduce travel, reduce carbon emissions and save money through Skype meetings or video calls. Allow staff work at home to save time, money and the planet.

To define your organisation or office to truly be “Green” you should consider making all the products and services as environmentally friendly as possible. Start small and you will increasingly, recognise the value of environment sustainability in all organisational operations.

For more information please visit the European Waste Reduction Week website 

Good luck with your European Waste Reduction Week.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is an award-winning and the only Community Electronic Recycling Social Enterprise providing a community collection service for all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Recycle IT offered collection services to 90,000 homes, school community organisations and businesses across Dublin and surrounding areas each year collecting a range of WEEE including monitors, TV’s and much more.

Our services are 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 on our work.

Pakman Finalist 2018

 

 

 

Free & Cost Effective Electrical Recycling

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, NewsLeave a comment

Recycle IT – Recycling Electrical and Electronics since 2002.

Recycle IT, a community organisation and not for profit was established in 2002 as Clondalkin Community Recycle Initiative. The aim of the initiative is to provide employment opportunities and encourage electrical and electronic recycling in homes, communities and organisations.

Over a 16 year period our social enterprise has developed into a well-known and trusted organisation offering training and employment to over 20 people. We collect and recycle 40,000 KG of old electrical equipment per month including monitors, TV’s washing machines, dishwashers, computers, laptops, phones and electronic toys, really any item with a plug or battery.

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Selection of Recycled Items  – Recycle IT

WEEE Ireland

Recycle IT works in partnership with the WEEE Ireland Compliance Scheme which is now 13 years in existence. We help support and encourage increased electrical recycling through our collection and drop off services. Recycle IT will accept all your once loved and used electronic and electrical equipment. Nothing is too large or small and we are at our happiest when we are assisting you recycle at home or in the office.

Community Collections

Our community collection team engage regularly with County Council officials across Dublin to establish and implement a public outreach plan to encourage community participation in free collections and pre-planned recycling events.

We actively engage local residents’ groups, schools, community organisations and business in solving electrical or e-waste challenges.  Create space and reduce clutter in your home, office, school, college or charity organisation by simply giving our team a call on 01 4578321.

Some extra benefits of recycling your old electrical equipment with Recycle IT include a reduction in the negative environmental impacts associated with electrical waste while also supporting training, work experience and employment positions in Dublin.

Community Collection – Recycle IT

We find free residents collection days are great way to get adults and children involved in worthwhile recycling activities within their communities. Recycle IT can provide residents’ associations with flyers, collection cards and our trained personnel will actively assist you with our door to door electrical recycling collection events so do get in touch to arrange your collection day.

Cost Effective Collections 

Recycle IT offer a, cost-effective personal and business collection service which help customers with a pending need to recycling. We can breakdown and destroy electrical, electronic, and metal equipment upon request.

Collection services are offered across Dublin and surrounding areas with dedicated teams visiting your location to help you recycle your old and once loved equipment. We can help with moving equipment once information about your site is provided.

Recycle IT - Equipment Removal Service
Equipment Removal Service – Recycle IT –

If you need server racking and computer equipment disassembled and removed from your site, we can help. Once electronic equipment is disconnected from power sources our team can save you time and other resources.

So if you have household, office or  commercial equipment let us know and we can work with you to arrange a solution to meet your needs.

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 2016 Recycle IT supported drop off and collection services to over 100,000 homes, schools, charities and businesses across Dublin and surrounding areas collecting 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 Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Leinster.

Please do request more information from Recycle IT about our recycling service on 01 4578321 or email info@recycleit.ie

Visit our Get in Touch page to request a call back.

Recycle IT – Truck

Sharing the Question of Plastic Recycling

On By JMCEIn NewsLeave a comment

Overview

For over 50 years, global production and consumption of plastics have continued to rise. An estimated 299 million tons of plastics were produced in 2013, representing a 4% increase over 2012, and confirming and upward trend over the past years. (Source: Worldwatch Institute – January 2015)

Greenpeace says that “right now an estimated 12.7 million tonnes of plastic, everything from plastic bottles and bags to microbeads – end up in our oceans each year. That’s a truckload of rubbish a minute”

Ocean Waste - Recycle IT
Ocean Waste – Recycle IT

Most plastics used daily have a very low economic reuse value. Think about bread wrapping or banana bags. Another fact is plastics wrappers can contain numerous materials which are hard to separate. Examples include sweet wrappers, take-away food containers, coffee cups, coffee capsules and plastic/foil-lined cartons for soup and milk. Are investments in recycling solutions for these materials profitable? If not, how can this change to benefit the world?

What we do today?

Since the 1980s China has become the world’s largest importer of waste. In 2012, up to 56% of global exported plastic waste ended up in China. Imported plastic waste alone reached a peak of almost 9 million tonnes in 2012 (Source: Greenpeace)

China offered advanced notification to the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its plan to ban the importation of 24 types of waste, including plastics for recycling, waste textile materials and all unsorted mixed waste paper, the sort of paper that accumulates in household bins. It also says cardboard for recycling must be “cleaner” and free of contaminants such as gravel, dust and stones.

According to Industry Week, the biggest quantity of waste comes from the US followed by Europe, Hong Kong, Japan and Southeast Asia all of whom export large amounts of recyclables.

Map of China - Recycle IT
Map of China – Recycle IT

Change now!

On January 11th, 2018 China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) finalized a quality standard of 0.5% for certain imported recyclables. (Source; recycling today)

According to various government and trade organisations located across the globe, this action fails to properly consider the negative effects on global recycling efforts, but in our view, we must recognize this change as an opportunity for governments and communities to take responsibility and well as action locally for waste and its possible reuse.

A recent report in the Irish Times suggests Ireland, which has little capacity to recycle plastic has been trying to locate newer recycling markets, but could we do more at home to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Greenpeace urges industries and corporations that manufacture and market plastics and other disposable products to take responsibility for their products through their entire life-cycle, take responsibility for the environmental costs and invest in transformative solutions and alternatives to put an end to the current unmanageable levels of waste produced every year.

Plastic - Recycle IT
Plastic – Recycle IT

What we say

Recycle IT don’t directly offer a plastic recycling service but like lots of organisations and homes, we do accumulate plastic as part of our operations. We would love to see better plastic recycling routes and well as a reduction in overall packaging.

In our opinion, all stakeholders need to come together for the common good and find a range of solutions which meet the needs of different countries, markets and communities. Researching local needs, planning and infrastructure can help all stakeholders handle the plastic waste stream, hopefully with positive outcomes for the environment which we all share.

Recent Progress

The first-ever Europe-wide strategy on plastics was adopted on January 16th 2018. It is a part of the transition towards a more circular economy. It aims to protect the environment from plastic pollution whilst fostering growth and innovation, turning a plastics challenge into a positive for the Future of Europe.

Under the new plans, all plastic packaging on the EU market will be recyclable by 2030, the consumption of single-use plastics will be reduced and the intentional use of microplastics will be restricted.

For further information on recycling packaging includng plastic packaging in Ireland you can call Repak on 01 467 0190 or visit http://www.repak.ie.

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. During the last 18 months Recycle IT offer drop off and collection services to 140,000 homes and organisations in Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE which includes thousands of dishwashers, computers, cables, monitors, microwaves, TVs and metal items.

Our electrical community collection service is 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.

Call us on 01 4578321 or email us at here

Visit our website www.recycleit.ie

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Recycle IT – Repak Award Winner 2019 – WEEE Champion

Recycle IT – Commended for CSR in 2017

On By JMCEIn Awards, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, NewsLeave a comment

Chambers Ireland Corporate Social Responsibility Awards 2017

The Chambers Ireland Corporate Social Responsibility Awards were established in 2004 to recognise the work being carried out by Irish and multinational companies to improve the lives of their employees and to enhance the civic environment in which they operate.

Chambers Ireland
Chambers Ireland

This unique competition now in it 14th year offers the business community in Ireland a chance to promote their efforts in CSR and gain recognition for best practice. The awards are presented in a variety of categories covering all areas of CSR.

The shortlist for the awards was announced in July and the overall awards winners were announced at a black tie dinner on September 7th, 2017. Recycle IT were delighted to be shortlisted in Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) category alongside 5 other organisations.

About the Awards

The 2017 Chambers Ireland, Corporate Social Responsibility Awards are partnered by Business in the Community Ireland, run in association with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and sponsored by BAM Ireland.

The awards are judged by two separate panels comprising experts in the field of CSR. The first panel will decide the shortlist while the second panel will decide the category and overall winners. The judging process is completely independent and no representative from Chambers Ireland sits on the judging panel.

On the night Recycle IT were commended for our work in supporting local communities with a range of community electrical recycling initiatives. These initiatives help increases the quantity of electrical, electronic and battery operated equipment recycled each year.

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 2016 Recycle IT offered drop off and collection services to 100,000 homes and businesses across Dublin and surrounding areas collecting 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 Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow. To learn more, please call 01 4578321 or visit our website www.recycleit.ie 

Picture1 Logo Small Copy

WEEE Ireland are Record Breakers

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, NewsLeave a comment

WEEE Ireland

Recycle IT are delight to share some recent news! WEEE Ireland had a great year in 2016 with some 34,482 tonnes of waste electrical equipment recycled. Some of the most interesring facts in the WEEE Ireland’s 2016 Annual Report are revealed below

WEEE Ireland Data

  • There has been a increase of 12% in the recycling rates in just one year.
  • Irish consumers recycled 34,482 tonnes of waste electrical equipment in 2016 with WEEE Ireland – the equivalent of approximately 15 million household appliances or
  • Irish consumers recycled almost 10kg of waste electrical and electrical equipment per person.
  • 49% of this waste was large household appliances; 15% fridge / freezers and 12% was television sets.
  • 24% was IT equipment, monitors, lamps, luminaries, consumer equipment and electrical tools
  • 15 million units of WEEE were diverted from landfill; 11.5 million units of which were mixed small appliances
  • 812 tonnes of waste portable batteries were collected by WEEE Ireland for recycling, equaling approximately 32,000,000 waste batteries
  • Ireland reached and surpassed its EU battery recycling target of 45% by the end of 2016
  • 80% of the raw materials recovered from large household appliances are reused and recycled.

Annual Report

These achievements were outlined by WEEE Ireland, on June 22nd 2017 when the team presented its annual report.  The report shows that WEEE Ireland has gone above and beyond the targets set out by the EU which will soon increase to 65% takeback of all WEEE placed on the market. This new target represents a high priority for WEEE Ireland that must be achieved by 2019 in order to maintain Ireland’s exemplary status in WEEE recycling.

WEEE Ireland Data

The report revealed that Irish people love to work hard and play hard (responsibly) with takeback of both electrical tools and electrical toys growing by 140% and 122% respectively. Refrigeration appliances were another high performing category, with Irish consumers leaving 103,000 fridge freezers in the safe and capable hands of WEEE Ireland. Large household appliances remain a consistently high performing category, representing 49% of all WEEE collected in 2016

These impressive takeback rates mean WEEE Ireland was able to donate €50,000 to their long-standing charity partner, LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, with whom they recently announced a further 5 year commitment to until 2022. This brings the total amount of charitable donations made to LauraLynn since the beginning of the partnership in 2011 to €285,000.

About WEEE Ireland

WEEE Ireland coordinates collections of electronic waste via three core channels; Retailers, Civic Amenity Sites and Collection Events. 54% of the tonnage of electrical waste collected by WEEE Ireland in 2016 came via its strong network of retailers, 30% from Civic Amenity Sites and 16% of WEEEE collected was from WEEE Ireland collection events. Batteries can be recycled in the familiar Blue Battery boxes, located in many Retailers across Ireland. For a full list of these, visit the WEEEE Ireland website.

WEEE Ireland works on behalf of its member producers to help them meet and comply with the legal obligations imposed by the WEEE Directive 2006/66/EC. Apple Distribution, Dell, Panasonic, Philips, Whirlpool, Glen Dimplex and IBM Ireland are just some of these 912 members who collectively placed 56,000 tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment on the Irish market last year.

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 2016 Recycle IT offered drop off and collection services to 100,000 homes and businesses across Dublin and surrounding areas collecting 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 Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow.