Category: We Recycle IT

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.

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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

Ireland’s Green Tech Revolution: Solar Panels and Vapes

On By JMCEIn Climate change, Collections, Computer Recycling, Dublin, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, News, Social Enterprise, sustainability, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

Ireland Sees Surge in Electrical Device Sales

Ireland has experienced a notable uptick in the sale of electrical goods, with devices like vapes and solar panels particularly leading the surge. This trend signals a growing appetite among consumers for both convenience gadgets and sustainable technologies.

Photo by Kelly on Pexels.com

Vapes and solar panels have driven a 75 per cent increase in electrical device sales over the last five years and a total of 93 million household electronic items were purchased in 2024 – almost three times the volume sold in 2006 according to Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland, the country’s biggest e-waste recycling scheme.

“Each one of those 93 million devices contains valuable materials like aluminium, copper, lithium, cobalt,” said WEEE Ireland chief executive Leo Donovan. Based on the that fact these items should all be recycled safely.

Electric & Green Tech Boom

Sales of solar panels have jumped significantly, reflecting strong interest in home energy solutions—especially across suburban and rural areas. The popularity of smart home accessories, electric vehicle chargers, and battery storage systems is reinforcing Ireland’s move towards greener lifestyles. For example over 2.5 million solar panels have entered the market in the last five years, but with a life of 15 to 20 years, they won’t reach recycling centres for at least another decade.

Disposable Vapes: Convenience at a Cost

Disposable vapes have also seen sharp sales growth, sparking concern among public health and environmental experts. Containing lithium batteries, plastics, and chemical liquids, they pose serious waste challenges if not processed correctly .

Photo by Markus Winkler on Pexels.com

Action Needed Now:

Research from WEEE Ireland also shows the proportion of households hoarding unused devices rose from 22 per cent in 2023 to 29 per cent in 2025, highlighting a massive untapped opportunity for reuse and repair. “We need to move beyond recycling alone. Extending the life of products through repair and reuse must become the norm,” Mr. Donovan said.

The message is simple – take your old gadgets—especially batteries and plastics—to your nearest WEEE or e-waste recycling drop-off in Dublin. It’s quick, local, and significantly reduces pollution.

Recycle IT is a community-based social enterprise in Dublin that helps households, charities, community groups, schools, and businesses safely recycle thousand’s of electrical and electronic items (e-waste) yearly. Here’s how we can help you:

Recycle IT – Electrical Recycling

Services Recycle IT Offers:

Free Household Collection: Our team offer free door-to-door residents association collection of unwanted electrical items like toasters, kettles, laptops, TVs, and more in many Dublin areas.

Business & Organisations Recycling: Schools, offices, and community groups can book collection services for bulk electrical items—ensuring safe and secure disposal.

Drop-Off Recycling: You can drop off items at their facility in Clondalkin if preferred.

Data Destruction: Secure disposal of hard drives and other data-storing devices for privacy protection.

Community Awareness: We promote awareness of e-waste and provide tips on reducing, reusing, and recycling electronic goods.

Environmentally Friendly Practices: Recycle IT recycling for reuse as much as possible helping reduce landfill waste and conserve resources.

Let’s turn this sales surge into a sustainability win for Dublin and beyond!

Recycle IT – Mixed Electrical Equipment

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 2018 Recycle IT offer to 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 computers, cables, monitors, microwaves, cookers, dryers and TVs and much more.

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.

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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Tips for Summer

On By JMCEIn Awards, Climate change, Collections, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, News, Social Enterprise, sustainability, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

Irish Summer Tips

As the Irish weather heats and days get longer our evenings fill up with activities including visits to the beach or park. We have weekend BBQs, games and lots of opportunities for fun. This all adds up to lots of leisure time spent outdoors in our beautiful Irish green environment.

Hot Days – Reusable Water Bottle

So, while we are playing, eating, swimming or sunbathing we can still have a focus on reducing waste, saving resources and keeping the environment green with these summer reduce, reuse and recycling tips:

1. Lawns and Gardens 

Don’t let that cut grass end up in a landfill!  Used your grass clippings as organic fertilizer. It can be reused to benefit your immediate garden environment. Instead of binning the grass as you cut, leave it on the lawn where it will return valuable nutrients to the soil. Alternatively, you can add your clippings to a compost heap. Either way, grass recycling will make a big impact on the environment and help to reduce landfill burdens.

Lawn Care

2. Summer Travel

Whether travelling in a group or by one’s self consider using public transport, walking or cycling to your preferred location. This can help reduce the environmental impact of Co2 emission and save you money. If you are in a city location like Dublin, you can avail of the Dublin Bike Scheme so plan in advance. If you really need to use a car, you could try sharing a Go Car for once off summer events, might be a real alternative to buying a car which sits at home for long periods unused.

3. Summer Food and Snack

On family trips to the zoo or a visit to the beach try packing homemade sandwiches, fruit and snacks in reusable containers, bring a flask and use reusable water bottles instead of buying bottled water, tea and coffee. Take bags along to collect recyclables and look for recycling bins when you stop for breaks. The average household of four people uses approx. 330 glass bottles and jars each year. Recycling 6 glass bottles per week saves enough energy to boil 2 kettles with enough water in each for five cups of coffee, so please drop off your bottles at the local bottle bank this summer! (Source: Recycling Live)

Summer BBQ and Food
Summer BBQ and Food

4. Summer Toys

If you have footballs, beach balls or pool toys that are old, try finding other uses for them or patching holes before throwing away. You might even offer them to a charity shop for use by others. These products are usually made of PVC and therefore not recyclable, so think about that before buying new ones.  If you are shopping for new summer toys, buy those made from recyclable materials to minimize the environmental impact.

 5. Summer  BBQs and Picnics

Whether at home, or in a park make recycling easy by taking and using a clearly labelled recycling bin. Recycle cans, glass, plastic, and aluminium foil. Since plastic cutlery usually can’t be recycled, offer reusable knives and forks for your guests. If you really want to work toward zero waste, put out reusable napkins, plates, cups, and cutlery at your next event! Of course, this isn’t always practical so, if you must buy disposable, try to find paper products that are made from biodegradable or compostable materials.

Wood Broken Pallets – Cut Up

If your using a firepit try to source old wood like wood from damaged pallets. Pallets burn well in wood stoves or fire pits, providing warmth and energy while keeping materials out of landfills.

6. Summer Equipment

Do you need to dispose of 10 year old garden furniture, lawnmowers, old BBQs or outdoor grills?. You can recycle all these type items instead of throwing them away! When recycling the equipment, please clean it thoroughly and then take it apart, separating the pieces into piles of metal, glass and plastic. Stainless steel, steel, cast iron, brass and aluminium can all be recycled. Plastic parts should all have a recycling symbol and number that tells you how they should be recycled. Remember you can recycle the electronic and metal components with Recycle IT.  Once you have recycled your old equipment and are looking for a replacements try to choose an eco-friendly, long life, easy clean model. Remember when cooking you steak, gas and electric BBQ’s or grills are better for the environment than wood or charcoal.

Summer Recycling - Lawn Mowers
Summer Recycling – Lawn Mowers

7. Clothes

Try to reuse last year summer clothes. It’s possibly 8 or 9 months since they have been last worn and nobody will remember them. If you have to choose a new range of summer clothes for you or your family remember to recycle any used clothes with a local charity shops. They can be used by other people over and over while raising funds for much needed causes.

Opportunity Knocks 

This summer is an opportunity to become a proactive recycler. Involved your kids and teach them about recycling now, so they will practice it throughout their life. It is important to teach our children about the environment and the positive effects of reduce, reuse and recycling. Start your summer with fun activities such as a garage clean out and car boot sale that will promote reuse and recycling, and keep your kids occupied! Tidy towns is another good option!

To learn more about recycling your once loved electrical items give Recycle IT a call on 01 4578321. or visit our website

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