Category: We Recycle IT

Free Electrical Recycling – Residents and Community Groups

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

How your helping!

Consumers recycled a record-breaking 41,730 tonnes of electronic and electrical waste in 2023 – the equivalent of almost 200 forty-foot containers Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland’s annual report shows that approximately 18.1 million appliances were collected for recycling last year – exceeding all European norms. 

Large Electrical Household Appliances – Collected for Recycling by Recycle IT

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.

Community Recycling

Recycle IT want to further encourage communities, householders, families, and children to take action and recycle more old, unwanted or unused stuff from around your home. This includes kettles, cookers, games, batteries, phones, metals, and electronic toys; the list is endless so click here for more. To support we offer free resident association collection in many areas of Dublin.

Recycle IT has a focus on recycling old, once loved electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and pure metal. If your cooker, hobs or battery-operated toys, radio or phone is broken or surplus to requirements what do you do? Do you leave them to gather dust in the cupboard, attic or garden shed or do you add them to the weekly rubbish? (out of sight, out of mind) Why not consider recycling now! We will except metal including outdoor heaters, BBQ’s, old bikes, pots, pans and more…

Household TVs – Collected for Recycling by Recycle IT

Impacts

In 2024 Recycle IT through residents associations and community groups offered collections to over 40,000 homes located on roads and in estates across Dublin and surrounding area. The weight of items safely recycled by our team in 2024 totaled well over 700 tons. 

Many of us simply don’t realize that items with a plug or battery can be reused, re-purposed or recycled. So if your TV’s, monitors, laptops or washing machine have become obsolete think about the positive impact you can make by recycling with Recycle IT.  You can help the environment, sustain jobs and create training opportunities by taking part in our resident’s recycling days.

Recylcing TV's - Recycle IT
TV Recycling By Recycle IT

12 Reasons to avail of Free WEEE Recycle

  1. Recycling conserves resources e.g. metal, plastics, water, fuel.
  2. Recycling reduces clutter and creates space.
  3. Recycling helps reduce Co2 emissions.
  4. Recycling saves energy.
  5. Recycling helps protect the environment e.g climate change
  6. Recycling reduces landfill.
  7. Recycling reduces domestic waste charges.
  8. Recycling helps create and maintain local employment.
  9. Recycling encourages others in your community to recycle.
  10. Recycling using official locations or collections reduces the dumping of waste.
  11. Recycling helps our children learn about sustainability so involve your kids.
  12. Recycling provides access to materials for repurposing and reuse by others

You can drop off your items free of charge with Recycle IT or arrange a residents association collection for you and all your neighbours once loved electronic toys, laptops, PCs, white goods, kitchen appliances, electric gardening tools, TV’s, old video games consoles and lots more.

Electrical Equipment
Household Electrical Equipment

Once received the items, they can be reused, re-purposed or recycled leading to an overall reduction in the number of electrical items going to landfill or illegally shipped to third world countries. Another real benefit is the fact that our service helps create training and employment opportunities.

Achieved to Date

  • Hugh reductions in CO2 emissions from fridge freezers.
  • Over 100 million electrical appliances already collected through WEEE Ireland.
  • A reduction in harmful batteries ending up in landfill.
  • Fewer light bulbs found in domestic waste.
  • Increased employment opportunities.
  • Better overall environmental awareness.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT an award-winning community recycler wishes to build on Ireland’s recycling success story and helped increase the 10 kg of waste electronic and electrical equipment recycled per person, per year. 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 recycling service is provided FREE to resident associations and communities in South Dublin, Dublin City and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown with surrounding areas in Wicklow and Kildare also serviced so please give us a call to learn more and arrange a residents collection for your area.

Please call us on 01 4578321 or email info@recycleit.ie.

Recycle IT is supported by Dormant Accounts to deliver our scheduled community and residents recycling collection service.

Supported by Dormant Accounts

Electrical Recycling Collections – Household & Small Office

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

Collection Service Dublin

Some of the many questions facing householders and business managers include how to create additional space while safely removing and recycling surplus or redundant electrical, electronic and metals items including, heaters, kettles, coffee makers, computers, servers, cables racking and much more.

The next question is, can we find a single solution which will safely collect and recycle domestic and office equipment all at the same time, Cost-Effectively or FREE (see below) and in an environmentally friendly manner.

Electrical Recycling at Work – Collection by Recycle IT

Recycle IT Can Help!

Recycle IT, based in Dublin, is an award-winning electrical and electronic recycling social enterprise with over 20- years experience in offering a collection and drop off services.  From our centrally located recycling center just of the M50 near Clondalkin village offers a one-stop recycling service for all types of electrical and electronic equipment. Household and commercial items can be recycled.

With collection vehicles serving Dublin and surrounding areas daily (Monday – Friday) you should never have to wait long for a safe recycling collection. Our teams can usually collect within 3 to 6 days of your decision to recycle.

2019 Large_Appliances. (2)
Kitchen / Household Equipment for Recycling

Our experienced teams provide a friendly, professional and timely service across Dublin and the surrounding areas daily.  We collect directly from homes and organizations of all sizes and ensure safe recycling of your items.

Many items collected are broken down into their component parts for processing into new raw materials. Our facility team can cost-effectively physically destroy hard disk drives upon request.

0001 Recycle IT - We Collect It IMG_0529
Recycle IT – Collection of Business Electronics

Free Collections

Our collection teams are happy to accept any electrical items so do call or email with questions. If your part of a residents groups, you can arrange a free collection for your estate. We collect free from schools, charities, community and care organization. Recycle IT can also support FREE WEEE to Work Days for staff and as part of this collection we can accept non commerical items from your business.

We usually required work places to gather together 50 – 75 items for a free collection. This is usually easy when the staff team and management work together to arrange.

About Recylce IT

Recycle IT, are an award-winning Dublin based social enterprise offering electrical, electronic and metal recycling. Community recycling services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland.

Recycle IT are supported by, WEEE Ireland, Pobal, the Dormant Accounts Fund, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow.

For further details about our free and cost-effective services call us on 01 4578321, email info@recycleit.ie or www.recycleit.ie

Recycle IT – Recent Awards

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Pure Metal Recycling with Recycle IT

On By JMCEIn Climate change, Dublin, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, News, Social Enterprise, We Recycle IT2 Comments

Metal Recycling

Metal is just one of many materials we use daily in our lives and it is really worth recycling when it has served its purpose.

Here are 5 simple facts about metal recycling for reuse:

  1. Metal can be recycled endlessly without losing quality, making it highly sustainable.
  2. Recycling metal saves up to 95% of the energy used to produce new metal from raw materials.
  3. Aluminium and steel are among the most commonly recycled metals worldwide.
  4. Reused metals are vital for making new products like electronics, cars, and building materials.
  5. Recycling reduces mining, conserves natural resources, and cuts greenhouse gas emissions.
Household Metal for Recycling

The type of objects that can be recycled includes aluminium and steel cans, electrical appliances, silverware, legs from office desks and chairs, old household pots and pans, cooking and baking equipment, school, office or sports lockers, gates, step ladders or zippers, the list is endless.

We recently learned that recycling one aluminium food/drinks cansavees enough energy to run a TV for 3 hours and if that’s not enough, the amount of aluminium thrown away annually in the U.S. would rebuild their commercial air fleet four times per year.

There are interesting facts below which we hope will encourage you to think about metal as a scarce resource and not just scrap. Without metal to manufacture, our daily trips to school by car or bus or our annual holidays by train, ferry or plane might not be as easy or affordable.

Interesting metal recycling facts

  1. Metal recycling is good for the national economy and the environment, e.g., increased local employment and reduced emissions.
  2. Recycling one tonne of steel saves 1,136 kg of iron ore, 454 kg of coal and 18 kg of limestone
  3. You can test which metal is in your bin by using a magnet. Aluminium metal is non-magnetic whereas steel is magnetic. (Great learning for kids)
  4. Drinks cans are made from aluminium while food cans are usually made from steel.
  5. Metal recycling helps create new products once the original items have reached the end of their useful life.
  6. Recycling scrap metals including iron and aluminium can benefit local construction projects such as roads and bridges.
  7. Scrap metals are refashioned for use in creating bikes, cars, aircraft and other modes of transportation.
  8. The United States of America annually recycles enough ferrous scrap, by weight, to build more than 900 of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridges.
  9. Scrap metals aid in the storage and transportation of goods across the world with many shipping containers created from recycled metal.
  10. Reusing scrap metal has supported many industries to reduce their environmental impact e.g. reduced mining of natural and scarce resources.
  11. Recycled aluminium can be melted at a much lower temperature than new aluminium, therefore, saving on energy.
  12. Scrap metal recycling helps reduce Co2 emissions created through mining, transport, and smelting.
  13. Recycled, reused or re-purposed metals can be used to make beautiful and durable home furnishing and decorations. Think about the festive season!
  14. Recycling scrap metal reduces the need for landfill sites and leads to a positive effect on water supply, soil, and land usage.
  15. A computer contains around 1.5 kg of copper, a typical home about 100 kg and a wind turbine 5 tons.
  16. In 2014, 2.1 million tons of copper were reused in Europe, coming from end-of-life products and directly recycled factory waste.
  17. China is the world’s second-largest user of steel scrap after the EU.
  18. Steel products can be recycled repeatedly without loss of strength.
  19. One scrapped car produces more than four steel street light posts.
Metal Pots and Pans

Did you know?

Aluminium is made from a mined ore called Bauxite, which is converted into alumina, a fine white powder. This powder is then smelted at over 700°C, to become aluminium. The process is expensive and uses lots of resources including energy and fuel.

Many aluminium items used daily are recycled but those used in packaging like ready-to-cook foil trays are difficult to collect since it is very light and usually encrusted with food after baking. These types of items are discarded in many homes, schools, offices, pubs and restaurants without much thought for the environment or metal recycling. Maybe it’s time to try a reusable alternative to foil cooking trays and foil food wrap!

Metal Stands

Finally

Did you know manufacturing recycled metal items requires an estimated 17 times less energy than manufacturing the same items from newly mined metal? Keep this in mind when replacing washing machines, cookers, ovens or hobs. They all contain metal that can be recycled. Recycle IT breakdown and recycle large household appliances daily. These include washing machines, dishwashers, and tumble dryers. Click here to view our list.

Metal Table Legs

About Recycle IT 

Recycle IT, is a 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 is supported by Pobal and Dormant Accounts and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Leinster.

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

Click here to learn more about recycling metal with Recycle IT.

Dormant Accounts Fund Logo
Recycle IT is supported through the Dormant Account Fund

Dublin Recycling Centre’s

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, We Recycle IT3 Comments

New Recycling Centre in Dublin

Dublin City Council have opened a new operations centre including a recycling facility located at St. Margaret’s Road, Ballymun D11. The facility opened in August 2023 and is a great addition to the city as you can easily recycle the majority of recycling streams including old household electrical items. The centre is located at St. Margaret’s Road, Ballymun, D11VF5Y with the public entrance accessed via Carton Way.

The North Dublin Operations Depot

This new centre will not be accepting commercial waste in any category and large commercial vans will not permitted. You can click here to find out more.

Recycling Mixed Household Stuff in Dublin

In general, recycling centre’s accept a range of items like paper, cardboard, plastic and glass bottles, drinks cans and food tins, textiles and footwear, electrical equipment, fluorescent tubes, waste oil and DIY waste. Some will also accept garden waste and even Christmas trees just after the festive season ends!

It is always best to check before a visit! 

Recycling Electrical Equipment

Many recycling centre’s accept old or damaged electrical equipment with approx. 75 million waste electrical items collected since 2005, that’s over 70 electrical items per household in Ireland but 1 in 4 Irish people are still hoarding or putting electrical waste in the trash at home. (Source: WEEE Ireland).  

In 2020 Ireland collected a record 64,856 tones of WEEE for treatment, a 4% increase from the quantity collected in 2019 (62,600 tones). Some 59,404 tones of WEEE were recovered and 55,012 tones were prepared for reuse or recycling in 2020, both up 3% on the 2019 quantities. (Source EPA Ireland).

Recycle IT want to encourage you to recycle electrical items using local services. With that in mind, we have compiled a list (all on one page) of WEEE recycling centre’s and services in Dublin.

Recycling Services

Recycle IT support householders, charities, community groups, schools and business with electrical and electronic recycling services in Dublin and the surrounding area. The Services offered are complementary to those offered by the Local Authorities across Dublin.

Recycle IT - Electrical Toys and Fridges for Recycling
Recycle IT – Electrical Toys and Fridges for Recycling

Services include a free drop-off for domestic or dual-purpose electrical or electronic equipment with collection services available on request. Collection services are offered free to groups previously listed with a cost-effective solution offered to business recyclers and or those with an immediate need.

Householders in Dublin City and surrounding areas can also bring their unwanted electrical items (WEEE) to a number of recycling centre’s promoted or operated by their Local Authority. At these centre’s, people can dispose of items such as toasters, cookers, kettles, lamps, and really any domestic appliance.

Recycle IT - WEEE Collection Service
Recycle IT – WEEE Collection Service

Alternatively, householders can take back WEEE to retailers free of charge. The take-back system usually operates on a one-for-one basis, i.e. you can exchange an old toaster for a new one but it’s usually not possible to return a fridge freezer while purchasing a new hairdryer. A number of large retailers actively promote this scheme so keep an eye out.

Recycling Centre’s in Dublin

There are recycling centre’s located across Dublin which will take back household WEEE and lots of other waste items.

Waste by Image
Waste by Image

The main centres are listed below:

Details on Recycling Centres in Co Wicklow can be found here.

For general information click Back to Waste and Recycling

Trade waste is usually not accepted at Household Waste Recycling Centre’s. Recycle IT will support small and medium-sized businesses to recycle dual-purpose electrical and electronic waste.  It’s always a good idea to call the centre’s in advance of a recycling visit. The call can ensure to don’t make a wasted trip.

You will find details on local bring centre’s in Dublin city here. You will also find a list of bottle banks located in South Dublin here.

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). Recycle IT provides 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 laptops, computers, cookers, cables, monitors, microwaves and TVs.

Recycle IT services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT is supported by Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities in the Eastern-Midlands Waste Management Region.

Recycle IT – Truck

Visit our website for further details.

51 Summer Tips – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

On By JMCEIn Awards, Climate change, Family, News, Plastic, Social Enterprise, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

Summer Tips!

For generations in Ireland and across Europe thrift was one of the main reasons for reuse.  In the developing world, it’s still the case and leads to very high levels of reuse.  In Ireland as in other developed countries rising wages and greater consumer purchasing power have increased the demand for convenience products.

Metal Reuse Bin @ Recycle IT

Some people are still careful about how much money they spend and on what items. Reusing is a feature of their life so as not to waste money. We all could learn something from careful management of our resources whether at home or in the office.

Convenience products have helped us undervalue reuse in favor of disposal or recycling. Recycling is positive and has great benefits but uses resources including time, human capital and natural resources (e.g. fuel) to get the items to locations where they can be recycled effectively. Reuse is preferable!

If you can reuse an item yourself, it can help save money, save time, and the environment. Reuse helps reduce CO2 emissions and the mining of new raw materials.  Reuse can be a matter of thinking a little differently and figuring out how old milk cartons, cans, bags, bicycles, tires, packing or wood may be reused to match your needs. Reuse will truly find a new life for items around your home or workplace.

Reverse the Trend with Reuse

51 Tips 

We’ve listed some reuse tips for summer – Have a read and see what you can do, share with others and do involve any kids in your life.

Here are 51 short and simple reuse tips for the summer months:

  1. Reuse glass jars as drink glasses.
  2. Turn old t-shirts into cleaning cloths.
  3. Save gift bags to use again.
  4. Use containers for beach snacks.
  5. Repurpose ice cream tubs for storage.
  6. Refill water bottles instead of buying new ones.
  7. Reuse wrapping paper for crafts.
  8. Turn cereal boxes into organizers.
  9. Use old towels for pet bedding.
  10. Reuse takeout containers for leftovers.
  11. Make planters from yogurt pots.
  12. Use egg cartons for seed starters.
  13. Repurpose jars for homemade jam.
  14. Use tin cans for desk storage.
  15. Turn worn-out jeans into shorts.
  16. Reuse kids’ school supplies for summer crafts.
  17. Turn shoe boxes into storage bins.
  18. Repurpose plastic bottles as bird feeders.
  19. Use scrap paper for notes or lists.
  20. Reuse broken umbrellas for fabric.
  21. Make toys from cardboard boxes.
  22. Turn wine corks into keychains.
  23. Use old blankets for picnic mats.
  24. Reuse ice cream sticks for plant markers.
  25. Repurpose detergent bottles for watering cans.
  26. Keep ribbons for decorations.
  27. Use both sides of paper.
  28. Reuse straws for crafts.
  29. Turn broken crayons into new crayon blocks.
  30. Make a kite from old plastic bags.
  31. Store tools in old buckets.
  32. Use mason jars as lanterns.
  33. Reuse seasonal decor each year.
  34. Turn magazines into collages.
  35. Repurpose clothing buttons for crafts.
  36. Use old toothbrushes to clean.
  37. Save and reuse shipping boxes.
  38. Store beach gear in reused bags.
  39. Use a basket for berry picking.
  40. Turn jars into candle holders.
  41. Reuse bread bags for snacks.
  42. Make dog toys from old socks.
  43. Refill old spray bottles for gardening.
  44. Decorate old cans as vases.
  45. Turn an old ladder into a plant stand.
  46. Reuse tin foil if clean.
  47. Reuse food jars for DIY gifts.
  48. Use shoe bags to organize travel items.
  49. Repurpose fabric scraps as bookmarks.
  50. Turn paper rolls into binoculars for kids.
  51. Reuse paper bags for crafts or storage.

Soft Plastics – Recycling for Reuse

Soft plastics, along with rigid plastics, paper and card, tins and cans are now accepted in your household recycle bin. Soft plastics like plastic film (wraps, bags, etc.) are now accepted in the household recycling bin. This change is due to advancements in recycling technology and the opening of new markets for processing these materials. To ensure proper recycling, make sure the soft plastics are clean, dry, and loose when placed in the bin. Watch this short video

Waste is a treasure! 

We all know one person’s waste is another person’s treasure. Instead of discarding unwanted tools, clothes, furniture or electrical appliances, try reuse with friends or donating them can reduce waste and help others save money.

Outdoor Reuse of Space

Local community groups, charity shops, schools, and nonprofit organizations may accept a variety of donated items, including used books, paint, working toys, and unneeded furniture. Please click here to learn more

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.

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

Bikes for Metal Reuse – Recycle IT