Tag: Dublin

Climate Change – What to do?

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

Learn what you can do!

Recycling allows materials to be reused, re-purposed or recycled again and again.  This helps in conserving wildlife habitats, avoids further pollution and saves energy. Recycling safely alongside other small simple changes in your life can really make a difference to climate change.

Waste sent to landfill sites costs Irish taxpayers millions of euros every year, much of which could be saved by recovery, reuse or recycling. Waste produces emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas contributing to climate change and after a number of years with severe weather events we can all see the effects of the climate change first hand.

Climate Change is Here
Climate Change is Here

Meeting emissions target is going to be very tough for Ireland. In 2012 the EPA estimated Ireland will exceed its allocated limit by 2017.

Ireland’s apparent inability to meet its obligations for emissions reduction is due to our transport and agriculture sectors but immediate help is available by simply taking one less trip, using a bike, going for a walk locally and by reducing reusing and recycling items around your house, school, warehouse, store or office.

The United Nations reported less than 20% of e-waste (electric or electronic waste) is formally recycled, with 80% either ending up in landfill or being informally recycled – much of it by hand in developing countries, exposing workers to hazardous and carcinogenic substances such as mercury, lead and cadmium. E-waste in landfill contaminates soil and groundwater, putting food supply systems and water sources at risk.

These type of activities and the negative effects are not unique to developing countries and can happen in Ireland if your items are disposed off incorrectly. Sometimes free “junk” collectors can be too good to be real!

Routes to ease Climate Change in 21

Below you will find 12 tips to help reduce the impacts of climate change, tips such as:

1: Switch to a renewable energy supplier in 2021.

2: Replace old kitchen appliances with energy efficient electrical appliances and recycle safely.

3: Use cleaner, greener light bulbs.

4: Unplug devices for climate, safety and money reasons.

5: Think about the way you travel and how often.

6: Insulate your home.

7: Plant a tree or two.

8: Grow your own fruit and veg.

9: Separate household waste.

10: Make and use your own compost bin.

11: Holiday in Ireland.

12: Cycle and include the family.

13: Recycle old paint cans at a recycling centre.

14: Don’t fill the kettle to make a cup of coffee or tea.

Recycling WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment).

If your in Ireland and have electrical, electronic, battery or lighting waste, you can Recycle IT free at authorised collection points. Use the interactive map to find your nearest local recycling centre, public collection day, electrical retailer and bulb exchange store. Even waste portable batteries can be recycled at your local newsagent.

In Dublin, the local authorities in South Dublin, Dublin City and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown work with Recycle IT to help offer residents collections for electrical and electronic waste as well as pure metal items. This annual service offered across suburbs in Dublin and helps householders dispose of large and small electrical appliances, IT equipment, small house gadgets and powered toys.

Recycle IT help thousands of householders and apartment dwellers yearly with their electrical recycling by providing an authorized, awarding winning, free or cost effective WEEE recycling collections.

The collections are held on week days with residents associations leading the way. Your local residents groups after making arrangements will notified you of your collection day with a flyer delivered to your property or by a text / whatsapp message up to 3 to 4 days before the collection happens in your estate.

E-Waste System Boards from Computers
Waste – Damaged and Broken Equipment

What’s accepted

Recycle IT accept old, damaged or unused electrical, electronic or pure metal items and all can be collected at the same time using our pre booked residents collection events or via personal recycling collections. Bikes, cookers, ovens, computers, phones, cables, exercise equipment, tools etc. Click here for full PDF lists

Just ask you local residents group to contact us and we can arrange a free collection from the homes in your estate or area. These collections are operated in association with WEEE Ireland.

Some guidelines

When putting items out for collection remember:

  • Keep the old items tidy, inside you garden, or on the kerb so the footpath or roadway is kept clear
  • If you think an unofficial collection are taking place, call us and we will arrange a collection from your door
  • Move items to the ground floor to allow for speedy collection
  • Let us know if items cannot be easily and safely lifted by two people.
  • Notify us advance if you have a request.
  • Do not leave sharp or dangerous objects with your electrical or pure metal items
  • Items should be secured if severe weather is expected
Old Metal Gates

What next?

Recycle IT are asking resident groups or tidy town groups to contact us in New Year. Give us a call on 01 4578321 to help declutter homes safely and reduce environment harm simply by recycling in an authorised way.

In the Interest of health safely and wellbeing please note – All items need to be accessible, disconnected and ready for collection. We will be following social distancing guidelines. We are happy to collect the item/s from a drive or garden / outside area / accessible & clear external location. Please remain mindful of social distancing and hand hygiene guidelines when recycling.

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 are supported by Pobal and Dormant Accounts and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Leinster.

To find out about other items which might be suitable for reuse, repurposing or recycling please click here.

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

Growing a tree in a pot

10 Community Reuse or Recycling Organisations in Dublin

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

Life cycle….paint, computers, lights, dishwashers…

Ireland and Dublin, in particular, is home to a number of community reuse and waste prevention initiatives aimed at recovering and reusing valuable resources that have been acquired by customers to serve a need or first life use. When that first life use is served many offices, household or leisure products can be reused and enjoyed by our follow consumers!

Reuse Ideas shared by Recycle IT

Reuse is the practice of using an item more than once, extending its useful life. Often reuse involves a change of ownership; reuse can also involve “re-purposing,” or giving an item a second life through a function other than its original purpose. When we think about it, reuse is one of the oldest forms of waste management and was practiced by previous generations. I remember as a child collecting and returning empty glass soft drink bottles to the shops in order to claim the deposit. Lots of people engaged in reuse or recycle long before waste became a business and disposal the norm

Disposable product culture

In the 20th century manufacturing, marketing and advertising practices helped drive a disposable product culture. Many products including cars, or electrical and electronic appliances now build-in technical, design and perceived obsolescence. After a year they lose the latest and greatest tag.

Paint Reuse

Concerns about the environmental, economic and social sustainability of continually manufacturing new stuff,  has promoted a resurgence in reuse and re-purposing everyday items. Some citizens and nations have embraced this resurgence while others pay lip service to reuse.

It has to be said, reuse on its own is only one step, but once included as part of the strategy, reuse can play its part in helping keep our world green.

Reuse v Recycling

Reuse does not break items down to their component parts in order to reprocess them into new materials. While recycling reduces the amount of discarded items that are sent to landfills or incinerators, reuse extends the useful life of whole items and creates a local community loop that keeps the items out of the waste stream altogether. Reuse in all its forms needs to be considered with clothes and fabric a fine example of a successful income-generating reuse model which supports charitable projects across the world.

Recycled Washing Machine Drum
Recycled Washing Machine Drums

There are a number of organizations in Ireland that can help with reuse for items including clothes, furniture, paint, mattress, home appliances or IT equipment.

List of organizations involved with reuse in Dublin, Ireland

Busy Bees – Furniture

The Upcycle Movement – Various

Irish Charity Shops Association – Clothes, Toys, and Household Items

Sunflower Recycling – Paper, Cardboard, and Cans

Rediscovery Centre –  Bikes, Fashion, Furniture, and Paint

Recycle IT  – Computers, Tumble Dryers, and Small Electrical Appliances

Rehab Recycling – Washing Machines

ReCreate Ireland – Arts and Crafts

Reusing Dublin – Unused and Underused Spaces

Eco Mattress –  Bed Mattress

It worth noting, a focus on reuse has many benefits including

  • Reuse plays an important role in diverting waste from landfills and is the second step in the waste management hierarchy of “reduce, reuse, recycle.”
  • Reusing materials saves money, energy, and natural resources, therefore, improving our environment and reducing the negative effects of climate change.
  • Reuse has the potential for creating new markets for materials, new product and opportunities for training and employment.

Recycle IT encourage reuse and recycling and can help you with the collection of electrical and electronic equipment, anything with a plug or battery. Our Dublin based colleagues and members of the Community Reuse Network can also help so please do click on the links above to learn more.

For more information on electrical recycling and reuse, call Recycle IT on 01 4578321 or email info@recycleit.ie

 

jci-fba-2018-home
Recycle IT – JCI Eco-Friendy Award Winner 2019  

Recognised as Age Friendly

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

RECYCLE IT – RECOGNISED AS ‘AGE FRIENDLY’

Recycle IT were delighted to be awarded an Age Friendly Business Charter in recognition of efforts to support older people in communities all over Dublin with electrical recycling collection and drop off services. Recycle IT are proud of the team’s work in achieving recognition and in also getting shortlisted for an Age Friendly Ireland Business Award.

Full Agefriendly-Ireland-Sticker_2015.png
Age Friendly Ireland

Recycle IT, a social enterprise is honored to be the first Dublin based Community Electrical Recycler to be recognised in this way.  The team views the programme as an opportunity to learn more and offer an ever improving service to older people and all customers.

Una Lavelle, Recycle General Manager, said:

“We want to ensure our services meet the needs of everyone including older people.  By signing the Age Friendly Business Charter, we are showing our commitment to providing services that are customer focused and accessible”.

Elaine McGauran Age Friendly Ireland said:

“We are delighted to announce Recycle IT has been designated as ‘age friendly’ by Age Friendly Ireland. The Age Friendly Business Programme is a nationwide initiative with the aim of facilitating local businesses tap into an existing and growing market segment that accounts for 50% of consumer spending, the older customer. The programme seeks to recognise the efforts and improvements made by local businesses to provide more age friendly services”.

Elaine McGauran Age Friendly Ireland and Una Lavelle, Recycle IT General Manager
Elaine McGauran Age Friendly Ireland and Una Lavelle, Recycle IT General Manager

In initially working to implement an Age Friendly Charter, Recycle IT addressed three main areas

  1. Customer Care – two staff members agreed to become champions to ensure older people experience a friendly and helpful service which address individual needs.
  2. Communication – information on our services is straightforward and our team can be contacted easily.
  3. Accessibility and signage – clear building and van signage and appropriate size text used on our website.

As a result of taking part in the programme, real service enhancements have been made and welcomed by members of the communities we service.  These include a dedicated collection team telephone number, clearly recognisable collection vehicles, staff identity badges and building signage. Further enhancements are planned.

The Age Friendly Achievement Award Ceremony happened on Tuesday 24th May 2016 in Fitzpatrick’s Killiney Castle Hotel, Dublin with the Recycle IT team receiving recognition on the night for their efforts in supporting older people in communities across Dublin with recycling services which address individual needs.

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Awards Night – Recycle IT team with Councilor Barry Saul

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is the only Community Electronic Recycling Social Enterprise in Dublin providing a neighbourhood collection and drop off service for all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

Age Friendly Champions Mark Graham and George Willis
Recycle IT – Age Friendly Champions Mark Graham and George Willis

During 2015 Recycle IT offered collection services to 100,000 homes and businesses across Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE including over 7000 monitors and TV’s.  Our services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland and with the cooperation of South Dublin County Council. We are authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and South Dublin County Council.

For further information, Tel: 01 4578321, email: info@recycleit.ie or visit our website www.recycleit.ie

Circular Economy: Know more

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

Circular Economy: Learn more

In 2014, the European Commission (EC) put forward an initial Circular Economy proposal to address the issue and help European businesses and consumers make the transition to a circular economy where waste is viewed as a ‘resource’ that can be recycled, re-used or remanufactured.

The plan will be backed by €5.5bn from the European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) and €650m from Horizon 2020 (the EU funding programme for research and innovation).

Circular Economy Tree
Circular Economy Tree

What is the status with EU waste policy today?

The 2008 Waste Framework Directive sets the overarching legislative framework for EU waste policy. The directive sets binding targets to be achieved by 2020: preparing for reuse and recycling of 50% of certain waste materials from households and similar sources, and preparing for reuse, recycling and other recovery of 70% of construction and demolition waste.

Meanwhile, the 1999 Landfill Directive bans landfilling of untreated waste. The directive sets a goal that the share of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfills may not be greater than 35% in 2016, compared to the baseline year of 1995.

The aims are to protect the environment and to safeguard the functioning of the internal market. It requires Member States to take measures to prevent packaging waste and to develop packaging reuse systems.

When will it happen?

The proposal is currently going through the EU legislative process. Before the Circular Economy proposal is passed into law, all three European institutions (the European Council, European Parliament and the European Commission) must have an agreed stance, which they will then take into a series of discussions.

Both European Parliament and Council of Ministers can amend the legislation but must agree upon the same text before the bills can become law. This means that a final proposal will likely not be established until the second half of 2017. Malta, currently hold the EU Presidency, hope to reach a deal with MEPs before 1 July, as its six-month Presidential term ends.

What does the change mean?

The targets listed under the Circular Economy proposal will be implemented by national governments across the EU Member States (including Ireland) and are targeted at the waste performance of households and businesses.

What are the targets listed under the proposal?

The original Circular Economy proposal intended to increase recycling levels and tighten rules on incineration and landfill. It consists of six individual bills on waste, packaging, landfill, end-of-life vehicles, batteries and accumulators, and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

Evolving Circular Economy
Evolving Circular Economy –

The re-tabled proposal, unveiled in December 2015, included eco-design rules for products to make them easier to recycle. But it also had lower 2030 targets for recycling municipal and packaging waste, and replaced a 2025 aspirational landfill reduction target of 25% with a mandatory 10% goal for 2030.

This target was recently rejected as” watered-down” ambitions. A vote has advocated to reinstate the 70% target for municipal waste recycling, strengthening current proposals by 5%.

Meanwhile, a 2030 target for packaging recycling was voted to be 80% – higher than the 75% previously backed by the Commission. And the waste-to-landfill target has been restricted to 5%, replacing a mandatory target of 10% by 2030. MEPs have also voted for a European Union (EU) food waste reduction target of 30% by 2025 and 50% by 2030, compared to 2014.

The proposal includes a series of additional measures and targets, including:

  • The promotion of economic incentives to discourage landfilling;
  • A ban on landfilling of separately collected waste;
  • Simplified and improved definitions and harmonized calculation methods for recycling rates throughout the EU;
  • Define measures to promote re-use and stimulate industrial symbiosis – turning one industry’s by-product into another industry’s raw material;
  • Economic incentives for producers to put greener products on the market and support recovery and recycling schemes (e.g. for packaging, batteries, electric and electronic equipment, vehicles).
  • Four legislative proposals (included) are legal acts: Waste Framework Directive; Landfilling Directive; Packaging Waste Directive; Directives on end-of-life vehicles, on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, and on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is an award-winning not for profit social enterprise providing a collection and drop off service for all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). During 2016 Recycle IT supported drop off and collection services to over 100,000 homes, schools, charities and businesses across Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE which includes thousands of computers, cables, monitors, microwaves and TV’s.

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

To learn more about Recycle IT or to book a collection or drop off please call 01 4578321 or email us here.

Recycle IT - Pakman Award Winner 2016
Recycle IT – Pakman Award Winner 2016

Recycle IT @ Bealtaine Festival 2016

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

National Celebration of Creativity as we Age

This festival is Ireland’s national celebration of creativity as we age. During May 2016 all over the Ireland Bealtaine events are running in clubs, community centres, theatres, libraries, galleries, arts centres, local halls, care setting, cultural spaces and at outdoors locations! so why don’t you, your family and friends make a special effort and attend an event or two. After all 2016 is a special year, the Bealtaine Festival as it is celebrating its 21st birthday.

Bealtaine Festival 2016
South Dublin – Bealtaine Festival 2016

Bealtaine Festival organisers expect over 120,000 people to take part in Bealtaine events across Ireland during the month. Planned activities range from dance to cinema, painting to theatre and much more. These events showcase the talents and creativity of both first-time and professional older artists.

It is a chance for people to make new and challenging work, a chance to communicate traditions between the generations. It is a chance for the novice to discover a talent until then unseen and a chance for a long-dormant skill to find a new outlet. Its a chance to volunteer or help your community do something new.

Launch Event

Recycle IT were invited to the South Dublin County Council launch event on May 4th 2016 in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel. We arrived with our stand and shared information on community recycling with over 100 people attending. We shared lots of WEEE Ireland battery boxes and Recycle IT cards providing information on our electrical recycling collection service. People attending were from all over Dublin including Tallaght and Clondalkin and we were delighted to speak and offer details on our community electrical collection or drop off service which aims to be age friendly and inclusive.

We want to say thanks to Social Inclusion Unit of South Dublin County Council for inviting us along and making us feel very welcome.

Una Lavelle, Recycle IT and Maria FInn South Dublin County Council
Una Lavelle, Recycle IT and Maria FInn. South Dublin County Council

About Bealtaine

Bealtaine is an Age & Opportunity initiative part-funded by the Arts Council and delivered by hundreds of organisations around the country. Dublin City Council is an investment partner. To view the Bealtaine Festival programme of events for Dublin please click here or to download the South Dublin Age Friendly County Newsletter here

Una Lavelle Recycle IT and Councillor Sarah Holland
Una Lavelle Recycle IT and Councillor Sarah Holland, Mayor of South Dublin

Bealtaine Festival Vintage Electrical Display

Recycle IT  have a vintage electrical display in Tallaght Library to celebrate Bealtaine Festival. The display is assembled from everyday household items which have been collected over the years. Please go along with your kids and have a look over the coming weeks and up to the end of May 2016. It really is a blast for the past!

If you have any questions about recycling electrical items using our collection or drop off services please call our team on 01 45789321 or email us