Challenges in Ireland’s Circular Economy and Waste System

On April 23, 2026May 26, 2026 By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Awards, Climate change, Collections, Computer Recycling, Dublin, electrical recycling, Electronic Equipment, IT Equipment, sustainability, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

Overview

You will find some highlights below taken from The Irish EPA Circular Economy Programme – The Driving Force for Ireland’s Move to a Circular Economy published by the Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland in December 2024. The EPA is responsible for compiling national statistics on circular economy activities and the generation and management of waste in
the Republic of Ireland.

Did you know?

Ireland is generating excessive waste, reaching a total of 15.7 million tonnes in 2022. Addressing this requires system-wide change to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. Stronger regulation, incentives, and enforcement are needed to encourage industry, businesses, and consumers to adopt more sustainable production and consumption practices.

Circular Economy Ireland — _{Circular Economy and Waste Statistics Highlight Report}

Ireland’s circular economy and waste system is underperforming. Progress in reuse and recycling has stalled, municipal recycling targets are likely to be missed, and a consistent three-bin system has yet to be fully implemented. The country remains largely dependent on a linear economy, with persistently high levels of waste generation.

Packaging waste makes up about one-third of kerbside waste from households and businesses. Since 2016, it has increased by over 20%, while recycling rates have declined by 7%. As a result, there is a significant risk that Ireland will fail to meet recycling targets for both general packaging and plastic packaging waste.

_{Click to Enlarge – Circular Economy and Waste Data Highlights}

The construction sector is another major contributor, generating over 8 million tonnes of waste and accounting for around half of domestic natural resource extraction in 2022. Moving toward a circular economy in the built environment will require prioritizing renovations and retrofits, designing buildings and urban spaces with lower carbon materials, and increasing the reuse of construction resources.

Waste treatment capacity in Ireland is also vulnerable due to heavy reliance on other countries. In 2022, over 1.2 million tonnes of municipal waste were exported, alongside substantial portions of hazardous and municipal waste overall, highlighting the country’s dependence on external processing.

_{Click to Enlarge – Waste Treatment and E}
_xports

The EPA collects circular economy and waste data from a wide range of sources, including waste operators, collectors, and treatment facilities, as well as local authorities and EPA-licensed facilities.

The full report summarizes all of the EPA’s circular economy and waste statistics data releases published in 2024, covering the 2022 reporting year. For more detailed insights into individual waste streams and the most up-to-date data for Ireland, refer to the Circular Economy and Waste Statistics resources here.

Circular Economy News

In late April 2026, Minister Alan Dillon announces €29 million to support local jobs, reduce waste, and help communities reuse and repair. The funding, provided through the Circular Economy Fund, will support initiatives in every region of the country — from community repair hubs and reuse centres to innovative business projects that cut waste and make better use of materials.

This means more opportunities for people to repair items instead of throwing them away, more affordable second-hand goods, and more local jobs in areas such as repair, refurbishment, and sustainable manufacturing. You will get further details here.

You can learn more about the Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy 2026-2028 here.

About Recylce IT

Recycle IT is a not-for-profit social enterprise providing a community collection service for all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Yearly Recycle IT collect from thousands of organizations in Dublin and surrounding areas. Services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland, with support from South Dublin County Council, South Dublin Country Partnership, Pobal and the Irish Government.

Recycle IT is authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities in the Eastern Midlands Waste Region.

Recycle IT as a social enterprise is part-funded through the Community Services Programme operated by Pobal. Any income earned is used to finance operations which include the provision of training and employment opportunities.

Community Electrical & Metal Recycling

On April 21, 2026May 28, 2026 By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Climate change, Collections, Dublin, metal, News, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

Free Recycling for Community/Charity Organisations:

One of the ongoing challenges for managers in the community, charity, and voluntary sectors is how to effectively manage space while safely removing and recycling surplus or redundant equipment, including metal, electrical, and electronic items.

These items can range from everyday objects like kitchen appliances, lamps, light bulbs, and batteries to office and IT equipment such as computers, monitors, cables, keyboards, photocopiers, servers, chargers, and even metal cabinets or storage racking. The list is really endless and once it builds up it takes up resources.

Free Mixed IT Equipment for Recycling — _{Mixed IT Equipment for Recycling}

Recycling is crucial to our world today and taking small steps can have significant benefits for the environment. By taking a lead you can ensure recycling becomes a natural and important part of your organization’s life.

Finding a Solution

Organizations sometimes need to find a recycling service which, can offer a safe, timely and environmentally friendly recycling solution. Nonprofits often run on tight budgets. Free recycling programs reduce safe disposal and collection costs, leaving more money available for programs, staffing, or community services.

Recycle IT offer this service and collection is free to charities and community groups. Over the last year, we have worked with hundreds of schools, training, community, parish and not-for-profit organizations across Dublin and surrounding areas to collect and recycle tonnes of equipment. This service is central to the values and culture of our organization and our staff team is delighted to support it.

Our Work

With more than 20 years of experience and conveniently located just off the M50, Recycle IT offers an easy way to responsibly recycle dual-purpose electrical equipment from both homes and small offices. You can drop items off while you’re passing by, or arrange a licensed collection for added convenience.

Many items are accepted free of charge. However, certain commercial equipment—such as photocopiers, networked printers, display fridges, or larger electrical and metal production equipment—may be subject to a recycling fee. For more details, feel free to call us or send a photo of your items, and we’ll get back to you promptly.

Recycling helps keep usable materials out of landfills, conserves resources, and lowers pollution. Nonprofits can contribute to broader community sustainability goals without additional expense with our free recycling collection service.

Free Collection Service

Our experienced teams provide a friendly and professional recycling service to charities and civil society organisations in Dublin and surrounding areas and we collect directly from a clear, accessible area in your building and ensure the safe recycling of your items. For charity organisations outside collection areas, we are happy to accept drop-offs. Just give us a call in advance.

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Many items collected are broken down into their component parts for processing into new raw materials. Our team can provide affordable physical destruction of hard disk drives and breakdown of other IT equipment upon request.

Our team will also collect items from staff or volunteers as part of any charity collection so please encourage your team to bring along old or damaged electrical items from home!

For further information or to book a collection just call or email us.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities in the Eastern Midlands Waste Region.

_{Recycle IT –Sustainability Award Winner 2025}

Recycle Metal Now!

On April 13, 2026May 26, 2026 By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Climate change, metal, Social Enterprise, sustainability, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

Every Day Life:

Metal is part of almost everything we use every day. It is in our food cans, kitchen tools, electronics, cars, bikes, scooters, gardening tools, and buildings. When these items reach the end of their life, the metal inside them is still valuable. Instead of throwing it away, we can recycle it and use it again. Metal is one of the most useful materials to recycle, and doing so makes a real difference for the environment and the economy.

One of the most important things to know is that steel, iron, aluminum, and copper can be recycled again and again without losing its quality. This means it does not weaken or wear out during the recycling process. Materials like aluminium and steel can be melted down and turned into new products over and over. Because of this, metal is one of the most sustainable materials we have.

_{Office Metal / Storage Metal – Recycle IT}

Facts

Recycling steel, iron, aluminum, and copper saves a huge amount of energy. For example, recycling aluminium uses up to 95% less energy than making it from raw materials. Steel recycling can save around 60–70% of the energy compared to producing new steel. These energy savings help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are a major cause of climate change. Using recycled metal also means we need less mining, which protects natural landscapes and reduces pollution.

There are many types of metal we can recycle at home and in our communities. Common items include aluminium cans, steel food cans, foil wrap and foil trays (if clean) can all be placed in the Green Bin.

Larger items such as washing machines, ovens, bicycles, and even furniture like steel table legs or office chairs can also be recycled. Electrical items often contain valuable metals like copper, aluminium, and steel, so they should always be taken to proper recycling centres.

Some facts help show just how powerful recycling can be. Recycling one aluminium can saves enough energy to power a television for a few hours. Steel is one of the most recycled materials globally, with high recycling rates in many countries. Aluminium is also widely recycled and can return to shop shelves as a new can in as little as 60 days.

The metal recycling industry in the European Union offers 310,000 green, local, and non-outsourceable jobs across all Member States. Source: European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC).
Ireland achieved a 58% recycling rate for metal packaging in 2021.
According to 2023 data, approximately 357,947 tonnes of metal were recycled, largely related to construction and demolition activity.
You can identify metal types using a magnet; steel is magnetic, while aluminum is not.
Roughly 40% of the world’s copper demand is met using recycled material.
Recycling steel reduces related CO2 emissions by 58% compared to primary production.
A single computer contains around 1.5 kg of copper, making electronics recycling highly valuable.
The automotive industry is the largest consumer of recycled scrap metal.
91% of metals from end-of-life vehicles were recycled.

Best Use

You can learn to identify metallic substance at home. A simple magnet test works well—steel is magnetic, while aluminium is not. This can be a fun and educational activity for children, helping them understand recycling in a hands-on way. Knowing what materials you have makes it easier to sort and recycle correctly.

It is important to remember that metallic materials are limited resource. Metals come from ores in the ground, and mining them takes time, energy, and effort. By recycling, we make better use of what we already have instead of constantly taking more from the earth. This helps protect natural resources for future generations.

Another benefit of metal recycling is reducing landfill waste. Metallic items that end up in landfill can take a very long time to break down. By recycling them instead, we reduce the pressure on landfill sites and prevent harmful substances from affecting soil and water. Clean recycling habits can make a big difference in keeping our environment safe.

WhatsApp Image 2026-04-13 at 11.25.02 AM (3) — _{Steel Chairs for Recycling}

Change

Remember, there are simple changes we can make to improve how we use metal. For example, choosing reusable containers instead of disposable foil trays can reduce waste. When metal items do break or wear out, we should always think about recycling them instead of throwing them away. Many recycling centres accept a wide range of metal items, and some even offer collection services for larger appliances.

Working together as a community can make metallic recycling even more effective. Families, schools, and workplaces can all play a role by collecting and sorting metal waste properly. Small actions, when done by many people, add up to a big impact.

In summary, metal is too valuable to waste. It can be recycled endlessly, saves large amounts of energy, reduces pollution, and supports jobs. By recycling metal items—from small cans to large appliances—we help protect the environment and make better use of our resources. Next time you are about to throw away something made of steel stop and think: can it be recycled instead?

About

Recycle IT is an award-winning, not-for-profit social enterprise established to create employment and promote environmental awareness through recycling and reuse. We work in partnership with WEEE Ireland and are authorized by your local authority to provide electrical, electronic and pure metal recycling collections across Dublin since 2007. Recycle IT are fully compliant for WEEE Recycling with permit details available here.

Generating Electronic Waste!

On April 8, 2026April 15, 2026 By JMCEIn Climate change, Collections, Computer Recycling, Dublin, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Electronic Equipment, Green Technology, IT Equipment, Social EnterpriseLeave a comment

The Statistics:

Statista reported in 2025, that every person in the world generates on average around 8 kilograms of electronic waste per year worldwide. However, there are significant regional differences, data from the latest E-Waste Monitor shows: Europe leads the way with around 17 kilograms of electronic waste per inhabitant, while each person in Africa generates only 2.5 kilograms.

At the same time, Europe has the highest recycling rate at 43 per cent. Asia and Africa have the most catching up to do, with e-waste recycling rates of 12 and 1 per cent respectively.

Only just under a fifth of the electronic waste generated worldwide is currently officially collected and recycled. The remaining quantities of electronic waste were collected unofficially, partially recycled or disposed of as residual waste and sent to landfill.

Statista E-waste Statistics shared by Recycle IT — _{Statista E-Waste Generated}

This gap between official and unofficial collection and recycling statistics varies greatly between different regions.

Recycle Safely

If you want or need an official collection of waste IT equipment and your located in Dublin, Ireland, Recycle IT can help. Our team can accept all types of IT equipment from homes, businesses, schools, public bodies, charities and community groups, all for safe and authorised recycling.

This includes old computers, laptops, printers, monitors, phones, cables, chargers and other electronic devices. Instead of throwing these items away, Recycle IT makes sure they are handled in a responsible way that protects the environment.

Many electronic devices contain harmful materials like lead and mercury. If these are not disposed of properly, they can damage soil and water. Recycle IT helps prevent this by using approved recycling methods. Their processes follow strict rules and standards to ensure safety and environmental care.

Mixed IT and Electronic Equipment for Recycling - Recylce IT — _{Mixed IT and Electronic Equipment for Recycling – Recylce IT}

Manage Data

Another important benefit is data protection. Old devices often store personal or business information. Recycle IT ensures that all data is securely destroyed before recycling begins. This gives people peace of mind that their information will not be misused.

Recycle IT also helps reduce waste. By recycling materials like metal, plastic, and glass, fewer raw materials need to be taken from the earth. This saves energy and reduces pollution. It also supports a more sustainable future.

The service is simple and convenient. Individuals and businesses can drop off their equipment or arrange collection. Everything is handled professionally from start to finish.

In Summary

Recycle IT provides a safe, authorised, and environmentally friendly way to dispose of IT equipment. It protects both people and the planet while making recycling easy for everyone. Click here to see lists and PDF files of what can be recycled safely.

Our community recycling activities help to provide jobs and training through safe e-waste recycling. People learn useful skills, build experiences, work in teams all while protecting the environment. Our team work supports communities across Dublin and surrounding areas, while helping colleagues to grow and develop.

About

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Sustainable Easter Tips for a Greener Celebration

On March 31, 2026March 31, 2026 By JMCEIn Awards, Climate change, Dublin, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Family, News, Social Enterprise, sustainability, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

Celebrate Simply:

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 an award-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

Recycling Office Equipment

On March 23, 2026June 11, 2026 By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Collections, Computer Recycling, Dublin, Electronic Equipment, NewsLeave a comment

Recycling Electronic Equipment Safely:

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.

Computers Chassis at Recycle IT — _{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

Office Computers for Recycling — _{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 office 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!

Waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling includes:

Office 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 offices 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.

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.

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 an award-winning social enterprise providing recycling collection and drop-off services for all types of waste electrical, electronic equipment (WEEE) and pure metal items.

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

21 Recycling Facts – Do more this Year!

On March 16, 2026May 7, 2026 By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling, IT Equipment, We Recycle ITLeave a comment

Community Recycling

Every year in Ireland, we support events such as Spring Clean Month, Recycling Week, and Reuse Month. These events help people understand why it is important to recover, reuse, and recycle waste. They give you, your children, family, friends, and coworkers a chance to learn more and take action together in your community to reduce waste.

Recycling helps bring positive change. It encourages people in communities to work together and make a real difference. Recycling is good for the environment, supports community volunteering, and also creates jobs in cities, towns, and villages across Ireland. The more people reuse and recycle, the more benefits everyone gains.

When recyclable items are collected carefully, some of them can be repaired and reused. Others can be taken apart and used as materials to make new products. This process helps create jobs, supports businesses, and strengthens the local economy.

Targets

Ireland is expected to miss its EU recycling targets for 2025. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the country is currently recycling about 42% of municipal waste, which is well below the EU target of 55%.

Recycling rates for packaging are also below the required levels. In 2023, Ireland recycled 59% of packaging waste, while the EU target is 65%. Plastic packaging recycling is even lower, at 30%, compared with the 50% target set by the EU.

Key points about Ireland’s recycling performance include:

Municipal waste recycling: Around 42%, which is far below the 55% EU target.
Packaging recycling: 59%, compared with the 65% target.
Plastic packaging recycling: 30%, well short of the 50% target.

There has been some progress. Ireland introduced the Deposit Return Scheme in 2024, which has helped increase the collection of drink containers such as bottles and cans. Early results show return rates of around 76%, bringing Ireland close to the EU target of 77% for PET bottles.

However, overall recycling levels have not improved significantly in recent years, while the total amount of waste being produced continues to rise.

The EPA estimates that Ireland needs to recycle about 400,000 more tonnes of waste every year to meet EU recycling targets.

Most of these figures are based on 2023 waste data published in 2025, as the full data for 2025 has not yet been finalized.

Electronic and Electrical Recycling

When you think of electronic or electrical waste equipment (WEEE) or e-waste, do you think of items like computers, radios, light bulbs, zip disks, and tapes drives, clock alarms or wall clocks, even cameras, it’s really any items with computerized parts.

These items and similar are adding to an ever-increasing e-waste mountain and the pile usually starts building in people’s homes. We know electrical or electronic items are not recycled as easily or as frequently as other recyclable materials such as paper, glass or plastics. Some of the items are very large and hard to recycle, others are small and have a personal or perceived value so people don’t want to let them go!

Sharing Recycling Facts

Most laptop owners replace their device after about three years, while many mobile phones are replaced every two years or even sooner. This creates a lot of electronic waste that needs recycling.
Around 91% of households in Ireland had a computer with internet access in 2019, showing how common digital devices are in everyday life. (Source: Statista Research Department)
Today, about 90% of people in Ireland have access to a smartphone, making it one of the most widely used electronic devices. (Source: Ipsos MORI)
Smartphone ownership in Ireland is near-universal, with approximately 93% – 95% of mobile phone users owning a smartphone., and many checked their phone over 50 times a day and up to 200 times.
A record 62 million tonnes (Mt) of e-waste was produced in 2022, Up 82% from 2010; This is on track to rise another 32%, to 82 million tonnes, in 2030;
Recycling electrical and electronic equipment allows valuable materials to be recovered and reused, helping to support new jobs and industries.
Recycling one million laptops saves enough energy to power about 3,657 homes for an entire year. (Source: How to Save Your Planet One Object at a Time)
Electronic waste can contain more than 1,000 different components, many of which include toxic materials such as lead, mercury, and cadmium.
Devices such as computers and televisions often contain small amounts of gold, but it can also be found in mobile phones, game consoles, camcorders, and media players.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a single computer can contain about 3.6 kg of lead, which is a toxic metal.
A global survey by Nokia found that 74% of people do not think about recycling their old mobile phones, even though 72% believe recycling helps the environment. Only about 12.7% to 15% of smartphones are actually recycled globally, despite up to 80% of a phone’s materials being recyclable.
Large household appliances, such as washing machines and refrigerators, made up 48% of all waste electrical items collected in Ireland in 2019. (Source: WEEE Ireland)
Devices like computers, laptops, and tablets are difficult to recycle mechanically because they contain many mixed materials and complex components that must be carefully taken apart. (Recycle IT)
WEEE Ireland collected 38,215 tonnes of e-waste in 2024, achieving a 9.5kg per capita recycling rate and exceeding EU targets with a 96% material recovery rate. . (Source: WEEE Ireland)
Irish households disposed of 3.2 million lamps and lightbulbs, 195,000 televisions and monitors, and 13 million small appliances including toys in one year. (Source: WEEE Ireland)
Many electronic devices contain valuable metals such as copper, silver, and gold, which can be recovered through recycling.
Recycling e-waste helps reduce the need for mining new raw materials, which protects natural resources.
When electronic devices are thrown away instead of recycled, hazardous chemicals can leak into soil and water.
Proper e-waste recycling ensures that dangerous materials are safely handled and removed.
Reusing or repairing electronics can extend the life of devices and reduce waste.
Recycling electronics supports the circular economy, where materials are reused instead of thrown away.

There are many ways that recycling helps our environment. Why not try to remember and introduce these 5 points.

A reduction in landfill and industrial waste by reuse or recycling.
Reduced energy usage by reuse or recycling.
Less pollution through reuse or recycling.
Increased employment by reuse or recycling.
Sustainable usage of natural resources by reuse and recycling.

When Irish people wish to make a point, they usually do it well. This needs to be the case with reduce, reuse and recycling

By recycling, your positive actions make you part of the solution rather than part of a global problem. As local communities we must plan and first take steps to reduce the amount of waste and including e-waste that is clogging up our lives .

Making sure that recyclable items such as computers don’t end up in the wrong bin, landfills or illegally dumped is an important step toward green living and environmental conservation for future generation.

About Recycle IT

Recycling Radiators and Heaters

On March 11, 2026March 31, 2026 By JMCEIn Climate change, Collections, Dublin, Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

Heater Recycling:

Safely recycling household radiators helps protect the environment and recover valuable materials. Old radiators often contain metals that can be reused, reducing waste and saving resources.

Radiators are typically made from metals that conduct heat well, allowing them to efficiently warm a room. The most common materials include:

1. Cast Iron
Older radiators are often made from cast iron. They are heavy, durable, and hold heat for a long time even after the heating is turned off.

2. Steel
Many modern radiators are made from steel. They heat up quickly, are lighter than cast iron, and are widely used in homes today.

3. Aluminium
Aluminium radiators are lightweight and heat up very quickly. They are also highly recyclable and energy-efficient.

4. Copper and Brass (inside components)
Some radiators and heating systems use copper or brass parts, especially in pipes, valves, or older radiator designs.

Updating Heating Systems

According to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), home heating typically accounts for about two-thirds of annual household energy bills, with most of the costs occurring during the winter months.

Many people are now trying to reduce the amount of energy used in homes to save money, lower the carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner, greener environment which is crucial to living safely on earth in the future,

Over a lifetime, all types of appliances age and work less efficiently. This will have an negative effect on energy efficiency and energy costs. This leads us to believe old radiators are less efficient than newer ones. Some reason why include:

Less Energy Efficient – Older heaters and radiators often use more energy than modern systems, leading to higher heating costs.

Slow Heating Time – Traditional radiators take longer to heat up compared to newer, high-efficiency models.

Heat Retention – Cast iron radiators retain heat for a long time, even after being turned off, making them energy-efficient in certain situations.

Uneven Heat Distribution – Older radiator systems may create hot and cold spots in a room due to inefficient circulation.

Energy Waste from Poor Insulation – Heat loss can occur if pipes and radiators are not properly insulated, reducing overall heating efficiency.

New models are designed with the latest technology with energy efficiency prominent in peoples mind when choosing new heating systems. Homeowners are replacing old heating systems with newer and increasingly efficient systems meaning old heating equipment is discarded but radiators and heaters can be safely recycled.

Recycling your Home Heating Radiators

If your old household radiators are faulty, broken or being replaced with heating systems to help reduce environmental harm, it’s worth noting the old radiators can be recycled. Before doing anything, you will most likely need to remove the radiators from the walls and empty the radiator of water and debris. Then you can safely recycle as many as you have. You can drop the items free to Recycle IT where the team accept cast iron and stainless-steel radiators, tubes, pipes and more.

Recycling Electric Radiators

There are certain things to consider when recycling old electric radiators. Electrical equipment that isn’t recycled or disposed of correctly can end up in landfill sites all over the world causing environmental and health concerns. Electric equipment like heaters contains hazardous substances that will leak. This then contaminates local water and soil.

What to do?

Recycle IT are happy to accept radiators, small heaters, and air heaters at our recycling centre where they are recorded by weight and sent for further processing and metal breakdown in Ireland.

Recycle IT accept electric, old filled pure metal heaters and radiators of all sizes. They might have been fixed to a wall or mobile depending on your needs. Examples of electric heating and radiators are listed below, and all can be safely recycled.

Recycle IT accept

Storage heaters*
Panel heaters
Fan Heaters
Convection radiators
Infrared radiators
Oil-based electric radiators
Wall mount heaters
Wall mount radiators (oil or water).
Metal pipes and valves

*Recycle IT will accept storage heater bricks for recycling. The bricks are usually part of an older type of storage heater and should be removed from each storage heater before colleciton – for safety reasons. (Please see the photo below).

Recycling for Good

If you look at the electrical equipment including heaters which you use in your home today chances are that they contain at least some materials that can be recycled into something new.

The steel from your heater casing can be melted down and turned into machine parts, metal frames or new heaters. Aluminium is another metal that can be reused. The plastic surrounds can be turned into bags and stationery. Even the circuit boards contain small amounts of certain metals like silver, platinum, and palladium. So, they are really worth recycling for reuse!

Remember many radiators are almost 100% recyclable metal so the Recycle IT team are happy to accept. Heaters also have metal and electrical parts. They can be safely recycled for reuse at our recycling centre.

About Recycle IT

_{Recycle IT Logo}

Irelands Circular Economy Strategy

On February 26, 2026 By JMCEIn Awards, Climate change, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Green Technology, News, Social Enterprise, sustainabilityLeave a comment

Wasting Less, Reusing More

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.

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.

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 Ireland found 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}

Climate Change – Weather in Ireland

On February 18, 2026March 31, 2026 By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical Recycling2 Comments

Some Simple Facts:

Climate change is making our weather more extreme and sometimes dangerous. On Feb 16^th 2026, RTE reported that, it has rained every day so far in 2026 at the Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry, a continuous run of 46 days which included serval Met Éireann weather warnings.

In 2017, Hurricane Ophelia was one of the strongest storms ever to hit Ireland.

3 people lost their lives
Over 360,000 homes lost electricity
Schools and businesses closed
Winds reached over 150 km/h

It was unusual because really strong hurricanes almost never reach Ireland— but warmer Atlantic waters helped power it.

In 2021 and 2022 hot, dry weather led to large wildfires in places including Sleeve Donard and Killarney National Park.

In July 2022, Ireland recorded temperatures above 33°C — extremely hot for our country. Heatwaves are becoming more common, lasting longer, with hotter, drier spells leading to an expectation of wildfires.

What is means in simple words:

The Earth is getting hotter because of pollution from cars, planes, factories, and cutting down forests. This pollution traps heat around our planet, like a thick blanket.

Because of this:

Bigger Rain & Floods: Warm air holds more water. That means when it rains, it can pour much harder than before. Some places (like parts of Ireland) could see over 20% more winter rain. More rain equals more flooding.

Stronger Storms: Storms are getting more powerful, especially over the North Atlantic. Stronger winds and heavier rain can damage homes and knock out power.

Hotter Days: The last 10 years have been the hottest ever recorded. 2024 and 2025 were the hottest years worldwide. Summers are getting even hotter, and heatwaves are happening more often. This can make people sick, harm animals, and damage crops.

Droughts in Some Places: While some areas flood, others get less rain and much hotter summers. This can lead to droughts, water shortages, and wildfires.

Rising Sea Levels: Ice in cold places is melting, and warmer water expands. This makes sea levels rise. That means more coastal flooding and beaches slowly disappearing.

Why This Matters to YOU

This isn’t just about the future — it’s happening now. It affects:

The air you breathe
The food you eat
The places you live and play
The life you live is disrupted including work, school, sport, and social events
The livelihoods of individuals and families are threatened

What can we do? You are not “too young or too old” to make a difference. Here are powerful things you can do:

Walk, cycle, or carpool when possible
Turn off lights and unplug chargers
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Eat more plant-based meals
Talk about climate change at school and home
Join or start a climate club
Take part in tree-planting or clean-up events

Small actions, create big change when millions of people do them. We are the generation that can help protect the planet so make a difference now!

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is a not-for-profit social enterprise providing collection and drop-off services for all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Yearly Recycle IT offered drop-off and collection services to thousands of homes and organisations across Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE which includes thousands of computers, televisions, toasters, cables, lawnmowers, monitors, microwaves and kettles.

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

Visit our website for further details.

Bike Recycling for Reuse

On February 12, 2026May 27, 2026 By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

Bike Recycling for Good

Got an old bike sitting in the shed collecting dust? Or maybe your kids have outgrown theirs and it’s been left in the garden for years? Instead of letting it rust away, why not recycle it?

Recycling is a safe and easy way to get rid of bicyclebicycles you no longer need — whether it’s a pedal bike, electric bike, or electric scooter. And the good news is, Recycle IT are happy to help you every step of the way. ♻️

Bike for Recycling - Dropped off free to Recycle IT — _{Bike for Recycling at Recycle IT}

Bicycle Reuse

The best thing to do with an old bicycle you no longer want is to offer it for reuse – whether you give it, sell or donate it. Even if it’s broken and you can’t repair it, someone else might be able to.

If your bicycle is still in working order, give it to someone you know. If you don’t know anyone looking for a bargain or free bike, then consider selling on places like Donedeal, or listing it on Facebook Community Page

You can also donate working and broken bikes to some charities. You can check locally for a list of charity shops in your area, that may take your old bicycle.

Bicycle Repair for Reuse

If your bicycle still has life left in it but needs repairs, there are community organisations that can refurbish and repurpose it for reuse. Groups such as The Rediscovery Centre repair and restore bicycles so they can be used again instead of being thrown away. Front Line Bikes in Dublin 8 accepts unwanted bikes for reuse and repair. Green Bikes of Ireland is a nonprofit entity partnering with the local university system and charitable organisations to rescue abandoned bicycles, restoring them for reuse.

Donating your old bicycle can help people who may not be able to afford a bicycle of their own. Reusing bikes also reduces waste, saves valuable materials, and supports a more sustainable environment by extending the life of products that can still be used safely and effectively.

_{Bikes for Recycling}

What Happens to Old Bikes

The most common bicycle frame is made from steel because it is strong, durable, and reasonably lightweight. Steel is also environmentally friendly because 100% of it can be recycled and reused many times without losing quality. Recycled steel can be turned into many new products, including food cans, cars, building materials, and even new bicycle parts. By recycling steel, we reduce landfill waste, save energy, and lower the need for mining new raw materials.

Recycle IT are happy to recycle old bicycles, steel bike frames, and bicycle parts. We also accept many other metal items from around the home, including metal gates, basketball stands, shelving, pipes, and metal trampolines (metal only, no fabric or plastic).

Bicycle made from other metals, such as aluminum or titanium, can also be safely recycled at Recycle IT. Electric bicycles and battery-operated scooters made from steel, aluminum, or titanium can also be recycled responsibly. Recycling old bicycles and scooters helps conserve natural resources, reduce pollution, and support a cleaner environment for future generations.

About Recycle IT

Visit our website for further details.

Moving Tips – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

On February 9, 2026February 10, 2026 By JMCEIn Awards, Climate change, Collections, Computer Recycling, Dublin, Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

Moving House, Apartment or Office

According to the Central Statistics Office, in 2022, 265,098 people moved home in Ireland, with 29% of movers changing counties and 5% of residents moving to a new property, Dublin city and suburbs was the area with the highest proportion of movers (30%) within or to the area.

Moving home is widely considered one of life’s most stressful experiences. It often appears alongside events like job changes and major life transitions in surveys about stress. There’s a lot to juggle at once — packing, paperwork, deadlines, costs, and the emotional side of leaving a familiar place — so it’s no surprise many people feel overwhelmed.

They surveyed 2000 people who had moved home over a three year period revealed 61% of those surveyed placed the ordeal at the top of their stress list, so it’s true, moving is stressful. Source: E. ON.

Legal & General conducted a seperate survey related to the motivation and pressure of moving. They report; almost half of respondents (47%) experienced increased stress levels because of moving. 41% of adults experienced anxiety, sleep deprivation (31%) and arguments with their partner (25%). One key stress-inducing factor was time, with 46% of home buyers having to wait between three and five months to complete their move.

Stress Points

Some of that stress might be caused by the fact that removal firms unusually work out the cost for your move by the volume of items that you have to transport to your new location.

Reducing your volume prior to the move should save you money and creates an opportunity to de-clutter through reuse or recycling. In fact, it creates a wonderful opportunity to list and remove items that are broken or unneeded. It’s an excellent motivator to share unwanted items with others or recycle items no longer required.

It’s a good idea to start with storage areas such as the spare rooms, the attic, basement, garage or store in the weeks before your move, as removal teams will want to do a pre-move checklist of your belongings. This helps determine how much stuff needs to be moved and gives an idea of wants involved in moving!

What to Recycle

People are still surprised by the number of objects that can be recycled. Recycling goes way beyond the glass, plastic, paper, and tins that your waste company collects. Commonly recycled items include furniture, clothing, electrical goods, batteries, bulbs, or old toys. home-office equipment, metal cabinets or lockers. These can all be recycled prior to moving.

2019 moving a cooker — ^{Moving / Recycling Electrical Equipment}

Recycled appliances like phones, kettles, cables, dryers, computers, servers or washing machines can be repurposed or their components can be removed and converted into new products.

Recycling allows home movers to clear out old items and reduce the cost of the removal, protect our environment and conserve natural resources. Remember this logic can be applied to moving from any location including an office, warehouse, doctor’s surgery or shop.

10 Moving Tip

In the weeks and days leading up to your move, use up perishables including food and cleaning products and recycle plastic containers before your moving date.
All electronics and electrical equipment (e.g. computers, toasters, heaters or kettles) contain some precious metallic elements like gold, silver, copper, and aluminium that can be reused. Recycling these items saves valuable new resources.
Petrol, paint, and oils should be disposed of before moving home. Many removal companies will not move your petrol lawnmower if it is not emptied of all petrol and oil and paint are heavy and will cost you money to move.
Fuel such as coal or oil should be included in the lease, house sale or used well in advance of moving.
Kids’ toys, clothes or bikes can be offered to charity shops, social enterprises, family shelters or housing projects. If damaged they are recycled at civic amenity recycling centres. Some recycling centres accept a range of items manufactured from plastics, metals, and wood.
Following your move, you have lots of packing boxes. The boxes may be supplied by moving company so they can be given back. If not the boxes are most likely to be made from recyclable materials, so they should be able to be added to your paper recycling bin. If you have a large number that will not fit, they can be taken to your nearest civic amenity site.
Take pictures of wire connections on electronic equipment such as computers, printer and wireless router as it will help you set them up at your new home.
Label boxes by room and number them to ensure you have them all on arrival at your house.
Make sure you have lots of help at hand to pack and lift boxes and equipment.
Finally, there may be items that you wish to dispose of but it may not be easy to find a recycler! Here are 10 community-based organizations that can help to reduce your belongings before you move.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is an award-winning, not-for-profit, social enterprise established in 2003 to create employment and promote environmental awareness through recycling and reuse. We work in partnership with WEEE Ireland and are authorized by your local authority to provide electrical, electronic and pure metal recycling collections across Dublin since 2007. Recycle IT are fully compliant with WEEE Recycling Requirements and permit details are available here.

For more information about Recycle IT please click here.

_{Sustainable Business Impact Award Winner 2025}

Cleaning Up E-Waste

On February 3, 2026February 3, 2026 By JMCEIn Awards, Climate change, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Green Technology, Plastic, Social Enterprise, sustainabilityLeave a comment

Process that transforms Hazardous Plastic

For many years, electrical and electronic waste (also known as e-waste) has been building up across Europe and around the world.

A lot of this waste includes plastics that contain chemicals such as flame retardants. While these chemicals are important for fire safety, they have made plastics very difficult to recycle. Because of this, much of this plastic has been treated as hazardous waste and sent for disposal instead of reuse.

A new project – PLAST2bCLEANED

This helpful project has developed a new recycling method that safely removes these harmful chemicals from plastic. This makes it possible to recover clean, high-quality plastic, as well as valuable materials like bromine and antimony trioxide. This supports Europe’s goal of creating a circular, closed-loop recycling system.

Instead of shredding plastic into lower-quality material, the process uses heat and special solvents to fully dissolve the plastic. The harmful additives are then separated out, leaving behind clean plastic that can be reused again and again in manufacturing.

Based in the Netherlands, the PLAST2bCLEANED project shows real progress in reducing environmental damage and lowering Europe’s reliance on imported raw materials, especially antimony*, which is considered a critical resource.

* Antimony is a metalloid, which means it has properties of both metals and non-metals. Antimony is utilized in various applications, including:

Alloys: It is commonly added to lead and tin alloys to improve their properties, making them suitable for use in batteries, solders, and bullets.
Flame Retardants: Antimony trioxide is a key component in flame retardants used in textiles and plastics including plastics use in electrical products.
Semiconductors: It is used as a dopant in semiconductor devices, enhancing their electrical properties.

New EU Regulation

A new era of EU regulation is changing how products are made and recycled. New rules now require manufacturers to use more recycled materials, including valuable substances like bromine and antimony.

Digital Product Passports will also track how clean and recyclable materials are over a product’s lifetime. At the same time, the EU wants to recycle more of its own critical raw materials to reduce reliance on imports.

Technologies like PLAST2bCLEANED will play a key role in supporting a circular economy.

Original post shared by Directorate-General for Environment: Visit here.

About Recylce IT

For more information about Recycle IT please click here.

Electronic Trends and More 2026

On January 27, 2026March 30, 2026 By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

Tech Trends

According to eMarketer, the Europe’s business landscape is set to remain heavily technology-driven over the next four years as organizations invest to stay competitive and address growing operational challenges in an increasingly uncertain market environment. AI hardware is booming as well, with specialized chips designed to improve AI inference speeds. From business automation to healthcare diagnostics, AI is driving productivity gains. (Source: Plunkett Research)

Overall ICT spending across Europe is projected to exceed $1.4 trillion by 2026, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% from 2021 to 2026.

A Financial Times report for 2026 shows sector trends for Small Domestic Appliances (SDA) will grow, IT & Office will see modest gains, Major Domestic Appliances remain stable, and Telecom and Consumer Electronics experience slight declines.

Banking and professional services will continue to be a large spending sectors while business in general plans to investment in telecom services and IT hardware.

Battery and vape waste is one of the fastest-growing sectors. But it hold major risks. With lithium-ion battery-related fires on the rise, proper waste segregation at home and in the work place isn’t just good practice, it can save lives by reducing chances of fires in waste vehicles and at recycling facilities.

It also worth noting the Central Statistics Office 2024 ICT Household Survey, which says seven in ten (70%) internet users said that their most recently disposed of mobile phone or smartphone is still at home. Nearly six in ten (58%) said that their old laptop or tablet was still at home. These items can collect by or posted to Recycle IT for safe recycling.

What this means for IT Equipment Recycling:

This projected surge in ICT spending signals a significant increase in the purchase and deployment of new hardware, infrastructure, and digital systems. As organisations upgrade to newer technologies, several key recycling implications emerge:

Higher Volume of Retired Equipment: More investment means more frequent refresh cycles, resulting in increased disposal of legacy devices—including servers, PCs, networking gear, and mobile devices.

Growing Demand for Secure & Compliant Disposal: With stricter European regulations (such as GDPR, WEEE, and sustainability directives), companies will require certified recycling partners to ensure responsible handling and secure data destruction.

Sustainability as a Business Priority: ESG and circular economy commitments will push companies to reuse, refurbish, and recycle more IT equipment instead of landfilling.

Rise of the Secondary Market: Quality refurbished IT equipment will gain value, extending device lifecycles and reducing environmental impact.

Opportunity for ITAD Providers: IT Asset Disposition and recycling businesses will see stronger demand for services like collection, certified recycling, remarketing, and reporting.

Bottom line

As Europe’s tech and appliance spending accelerates, the recycling of IT equipment becomes not just a regulatory necessity but a strategic business function—supporting sustainability goals, cost optimization, data security, safety, and environmental responsibility.

Businesses need clear direction and confidence that their electronic waste is being managed safely and responsibly at every stage of the process. By partnering with a fully permitted, experienced provider like Recycle IT, organisations gain peace of mind—knowing compliance is met, risks are reduced, and materials are handled, treated, and disposed of to the highest standards.

_{Server Racking for Dismantling and Removal}

About Recylce IT

For more information about Recycle IT please click here.

Reuse and Recycling Tips – Refreshed for 2026

On January 14, 2026January 15, 2026 By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

Small Steps

Small everyday choices can make a big difference to our environment. By reusing items, reducing waste, and recycling wherever possible, we can save resources, cut pollution, and protect our planet for future generations. These simple tips show easy ways everyone—at home, at school, and at work—can reduce waste and live more sustainably. Start with one change and build from there—every action counts.

Reuse and Recycling Tips

Use both sides of paper when writing or drawing.
Give partially used printed paper to children or local schools for drawing.
Bring food to school or work in reusable containers.
Rent or hire schoolbooks and supplies instead of buying new.
Hire gardening tools that are only used occasionally.
Make a bird feeder by reusing a medium-sized plastic bottle.
Choose low-energy light bulbs at home and in the office.
Give unwanted clothes a second life by donating or reusing them.
Reuse and repair items such as shoes and clothing whenever possible.
Pass on seasonal children’s costumes as your children grow.
Choose bar soap instead of liquid soap in plastic bottles.
Buy long-lasting, durable products such as reusable razors and refillable pens.
Use rechargeable batteries for household appliances.
Avoid unnecessary purchases for one-off occasions (e.g. Christmas or Easter).
Give experience-based gifts such as show tickets, sports events, or concerts.
Choose eco-friendly products by reading and understanding labels.
Buy products with minimal or no packaging.
Purchase regularly used household products in bulk.
Reuse shopping bags when shopping.
Use refillable products such as pasta, rice, coffee, and loose-leaf tea.
Drink tap water from reusable bottles.
Donate old books, toys, and games to charities, libraries, or schools.
Reuse glass jars for storage or household purposes.
Compost food scraps and garden waste.
Repair small appliances instead of replacing them.
Buy second-hand furniture, bikes, and electronics.
Swap items with friends, neighbors, or community groups.
Use cloth napkins and towels instead of disposable paper products.
Repurpose old clothing into cleaning cloths or craft materials.
Choose digital bills, tickets, and receipts whenever possible.
Reuse envelopes, folders, and packaging materials.
Return printer cartridges and electronics to recycling collection points.
Choose products made from recycled materials.
Use reusable coffee cups for takeaway drinks.
Freeze leftovers to reduce food waste.
Share rarely used items such as ladders or power tools.
Turn old towels and blankets into pet bedding.
Use beeswax wraps instead of plastic wrap or foil.
Mend or upcycle old furniture instead of replacing it.
Collect rainwater for garden use.

Get Started

As a start, actively look for reuse opportunities close to you, such as charity shops (see below), repair cafés, community swap events, libraries, and refill stores. Local schools, community centres, and online neighborhoods groups often accept donations or share items. Engaging locally reduces waste, supports your community, and helps valuable materials stay in use.

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 Meath, 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.

Gift of Reuse – Mobile Phones

On December 16, 2025December 16, 2025 By JMCEIn Dublin, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Electronic Equipment, Social EnterpriseLeave a comment

Gifting, Upgrading, Replacing, Reusing

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday, just past and Christmas fast approaching new mobile phones are chosen by many as a gift for that special someone. At the same time, many of us just upgrade or replace old phones with a new, faster, increasingly secure gleaming model!

According to the Irish Central Statistics Office (CSO), seven in ten (70%) of internet users said that their most recently disposed of mobile phone or smartphone is still at home. Just 9% of internet users had disposed of their most recently disposed of/replaced mobile phone or smartphone at an electronic waste collection/recycling centre.

By Age

Analysis by age group shows that younger people aged 16 to 29 years were far more likely to sell or give away their mobile phone or smartphone when disposing of it or replacing it. Nearly one quarter (24%) of these younger internet users sold or gave away their phone when finished using it, over double the use of this disposal method amongst older persons in the 60 to 74 years age group (11%). Just 5% of internet users aged 75 years and over sold or gave their phone away when disposing of it or replacing it.

A 2024 Global GSMA Survey shows that handing down smartphones to family and friends is a Global Trend, but 5-10 Billion dormant’ mobile phones remain in desk drawers worldwide.

Some options

There are an increasing number of options for recycling and reusing old mobile phones some of which are listed below.

When you buy a new mobile phone in a shop, ask how you can recycle your old one.
If your unwanted phone is in good working condition and reasonably up-to-date, online resellers and some high street shops buy electrical or electronic items, especially if you have the original box, charger and instructions.
Old, unused, broken mobile phones can be disposed of at most recycling centres alongside small electrical items – find your nearest in Dublin here.

Some charities did accept mobile phones in the past. This option seems to have ceased but safe recycling is still an option, It’s really good to know phones are recyclable and many parts can be recovered so please don’t send them to a landfill or leave them in the drawer for years.

Value

Mobile phones contain a range of materials including valuable fragments such as Silver, Lead, Aluminum, Lithium and Palladium are found in smartphones. These resources can all be extracted and re-used over and over again. The variety of metals used includes aluminium which is lightweight and usually found in the phone case. Lithium cobalt oxide and carbon graphite are used to make the batteries. Elements like gold, copper and silver are used in the wiring of the phone. Platinum and tungsten are used in the circuitry. Another common material found in mobile phones is plastic which can be used instead of lightweight metal in the case.

Before you retire your old phone

Back up your data e.g. photos, music, messages, emails, contacts etc
Turn off any payment services e.g.google pay where your card details are stored
Sign out of apps that hold your personal information e.g. social media sites and email accounts.
Delete saved passwords on your browsers – e.g. google chrome.
Remove your SIM card and any backup or external storage
Wipe the phone with a factory reset.

If you are unsure of how to perform the above actions you can try the user manual if you still have one. Alternatively, if you know or can find the phone model number you will most likely find the steps online and there may be a video on YouTube to help.

If the above action doesn’t work for you, Recycle IT can help with the cost-effective breakdown and destruction of your old mobile phones. The process places the phone beyond reuse, while also safely recycling the component parts for processing and eventual reuse in new products.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is an award-winning, not-for-profit, social enterprise established to create employment and promote environmental awareness through recycling and reuse. We work in partnership with WEEE Ireland and are authorized by your local authority to provide electrical, electronic and pure metal recycling collections across Dublin since 2007. Recycle IT are fully compliant with WEEE Recycling Requirements and permit details are available here.

For more information about Recycle IT please click here.

Electrical Recycling Collections – Household & Small Office

On November 21, 2025July 21, 2026 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

Gaming Consoles – Recycle Safely

On November 17, 2025May 14, 2026 By JMCEIn Climate change, Collections, Computer Recycling, Dublin, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, Family, News, Social EnterpriseLeave a comment

Best Selling

Just over 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:

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

Try the following

Reuse your console by gifting it to someone you know.
Donate your console to a local youth or community organisation,
Resell your device after wiping or destroying the hard disk drive / returning to factory settings.
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.

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

_{Recycle IT – Dublin City Social Enterprise Awardee 2025}

Recycling Collections – Bogus – Fake – Phony

On November 10, 2025November 10, 2025 By JMCEIn Dublin, Electronic and Electrical Recycling, NewsLeave a comment

Be Careful with “Free Recycling Day” Flyers

At certain times of the year, you might receive a flyer advertising free recycling days for old, broken, or unused items. These events may offer to collect household or office items such as clothes, metal, electrical goods, or garden tools.

It sounds like a great idea — a chance to reduce waste, recycle, and clear clutter from your home or workplace. But have you ever stopped to think that some of these collectors might be unregulated or even illegal?

For example, a flyer promoting a “Free Jumble Recycling Day” might offer to take items like car batteries, laptops, TVs, or wardrobes — things that usually can’t go in a regular recycling bin and often require a licensed collection or drop-off at a recycling centre.

These flyers are usually bogus, should be ignored and handing items over can lead to illegal dumping of your stuff and penalties if the material is identified as belonging to you!

Bogus Recycling – a reality

Think about it, when you take the time to carry your old TV or radio down the stairs, you might actually be handing it over to someone who simply loads it up onto a truck for delivery to a developing country or alternatively takes a few parts out and leaves the remainder on an Irish county road in the dark of night.

Is handing these items to a no-named collector in a non-authorized or unlicensed waste collection van the right choice?

Old Electrical Items - Recylce IT — _{Electrical Appliances for Recycling – Recycle IT}

Unofficial Collectors

Depending on market prices collectors can generate an income by sending products to other countries or simply by dumping the items. This is particularly true for recycling computers, tablets, TV monitors, printers and other electronic items. Recycling electrical and electronic items officially costs more in Europe but the collector can get paid for exporting them to buyers in developing countries who will remove the metals for resale but won’t pay to protect their staff or their communities from the toxic emissions and waste.

As the price of metal increases washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers are becoming increasingly attractive items for unofficial recyclers. These items are stripped locally and unprofitable waste is disposed of in hedgerows and fields making our communities untidy, dismal and possibly toxic places to live.

Costs of Illegal Dumping

More than 60,000 instances of illegal dumping have cost Dublin City Council more than €5.2 million to remove since 2019, according to figures published in the Irish Times,15 Sept 2024. In South Dublin the cost was estimated at €127,000 per month for 2023. This spending on clean up and similar amounts from other county councils areas could be saved and reinvested in local communities if illegal collection and dumping could be stopped.

^{Electrical Waste for Collection – Recycle IT}

The disposal of rubbish in any area of land in Ireland without licensed approval and permission is illegal. It is punishable by fines from €150 up to €10 million upon conviction and 10 years imprisonment. In order to know more about a bogus collection, we have compiled the list below.

14 tips on spotting a Bogus Recycling Collection?

The leaflet presenting the collections service is of low quality.
The collector does not provide a waste facility address on leaflets
The waste facility license number is not visible on the leaflet.
There is no landline telephone listed on printed materials.
The phone is never answered when called.
An email address is omitted from the flyer or poster.
The collector has no website or social media presence.
Collection vehicles don’t have a waste collection permit number on display. (required by law)
Collections are made outside of traditional business hours.
Collection representatives don’t have any formal identification.
Only certain waste items are collected i.e. the most valuable.
A bogus charity may be named on the collection flyers or posters.
No help or support is offered to move or lift heavy electrical items from homes or businesses.
No personal service or advice is offered on recycling different products.

It’s complicated!

It’s not easy to determine whether a recycler is exporting or illegally dumping your once loved stuff including electrical or electronic waste like hairdryers or phones. You can’t just go by what they say! Some will use environmental or charitable causes that sound good, but they are still unofficial. If you have a gut feeling it’s not right, follow that feeling and don’t leave the items out for collection.

Ask yourself the question – Who’s Paying?

One way to determine an official collector versus an unofficial collector is to figure out who is paying the recycling cost. If it’s free for you to recycle, then who is paying? A manufacturer? The State? Local Authority? If you are not paying, and there is no clear sponsor paying the costs for collection and recycling, please question the validity of the collector. For example, Recycle IT is a social enterprise that received some funds and also generates an income from responsible recycling.

Official Electrical Recycling Collection - Recycle IT — _{Official Electrical Recycling Collection – Recycle IT}

County Councils across Dublin at different times have warned residents to ignore these types of collections promoted by paper recycling flyers that have been put through letterboxes. They generally have no waste permit or collection permit numbers noted.

It’s worth noting, that it is an offence for any person to hand over their waste for disposal to an unauthorised waste collector. Fines of up to €5,000 may be imposed on individuals upon conviction in the District Court.

You must always ensure that any company or person you engage to collect your waste possesses a valid Waste Collection Permit. Any reputable waste collector is obliged to display the waste collection permit number on all vehicles, flyers and receipts.

You can check if the waste collector is authorised on the National Waste Collection Permit Office website; http://www.nwcpo.ie/permitsearch.aspx and enter details in an advanced search.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is the only Community Electronic Recycling Social Enterprise in Dublin providing a neighbourhood collection service for all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). In 2021 Recycle IT offered collection services to thousands of homes, community groups and businesses across Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE including monitors, computers, cookers, and TV equipment.

Recycle IT services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorised by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow.

Visit our website for further details or call 01 4578321.

_{Recycle IT are Awardee’s: Dublin City Social Enterprise Award 2025 and the Nancy Ward Circular Economy Award 2025}

UN’s Global E-waste Monitor 2024 reports

On October 28, 2025 By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

Todays E-waste World

The world is creating electronic waste—such as old phones, laptops, and TVs—much faster than it is being recycled. In 2022, we produced 62 million tonnes of e-waste, which is 82% more than in 2010. Only 22% of that waste was properly collected and recycled, while the rest was lost or dumped, wasting $62 billion worth of valuable materials.

E-waste contains toxic substances like mercury that can harm both the environment and human health. If nothing changes, global e-waste is expected to grow to 82 million tonnes by 2030, while recycling rates may drop to just 20%. This growing problem is driven by people buying and replacing electronics more often, products becoming harder to repair, shorter product lifespans, and poor waste management systems.

The UN reports that if countries could raise recycling rates to 60% by 2030, the world would gain huge economic and health benefits, saving more than $38 billion.

The world also remains highly dependent on a few countries for rare earth materials—metals essential for green technologies like electric cars and solar panels—yet only about 1% of these valuable elements are recovered from e-waste.

18 Actions That Can Help

Governments & Policymakers

Create or strengthen e-waste laws to require proper recycling.
Offer further support to achieve national recycling targets.
Continue to track progress.
Invest in recycling facilities and safe waste collection systems.
Encourage eco-design – make products easier to repair, reuse, and recycle.
Ban illegal e-waste exports to developing countries.

Manufacturers & Companies

Design for durability and repairability (longer product life).
Offer take-back or recycling programs for old devices.
Use recycled materials in new products.
Provide spare parts and repair manuals to consumers.

Individuals & Consumers

Repair before replacing electronic devices.
Donate or resell working electronics instead of throwing them away.
Recycle properly at certified e-waste collection centers.
Buy refurbished or energy-efficient electronics.
Reduce gadget upgrades — use what you have longer.

Global & Community Efforts

Increase awareness about e-waste dangers and recycling options.
Support circular economy initiatives – reuse, repair, recycle.
Encourage global cooperation to share recycling technology and expertise.

You can read the report here.

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 offer services to homes, communities and organisations in Dublin and surrounding areas.

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

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