Tag: electronic

More Toys! Reuse or Recycle this Christmas🎅

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

Imagination and Creativity

Toys are a traditional gift for children at Christmas and bring a good deal of joy over the following months. Toys also play an important role in childhood, sparking imagination, and fostering creativity. However, as our kids grow, toys often accumulate, gathering dust in forgotten corners or succumbing to wear and tear. But what if I told you that recycling these old, damaged, or unused electronic toys could make a significant impact on our environment?

Fun Family Game

The toy industry in Ireland, like in many other countries, has seen an increasing trend in the popularity of electronic and battery-operated toys. With advancements in technology and the growing interest in interactive and tech-based toys, the sales of electronic toys have been on the rise.

The graphic below demonstrates that in 2019, the annual amount spent on toys per child in the EU was estimated to be $212. The total EU toy market size was estimated to be $24.6 billion. From 2022 to 2025, this value is expected to have a compound annual growth of 15.59%, projecting a volume of $96,537M by 2025. Source: EuroDev BV.

Disposal

With the rise in electronic and battery-operated toys, the issue of electronic waste has become more pressing. Electronics contain various materials that can harm the environment if disposed of improperly. When these toys end up in landfills, they contribute to electronic waste, also known as e-waste. This waste contains hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, posing significant risks to both human health and the environment if not handled correctly.

Tablet

Recycling old, damaged, or unused electronic toys presents a solution to this growing problem. By recycling these toys, we divert electronic waste from landfills, preventing harmful substances from leaching into the soil and water sources. Moreover, recycling helps conserve resources by recovering valuable materials like metals, plastics, and other components that can be reused in manufacturing new products.

Now, let’s consider the adverse effects of tossing toys into the regular black or green rubbish bins. When these toys end up in landfills, they contribute to the growing electronic waste problem. Electronics typically take a long time to decompose, and as they break down, they release harmful chemicals into the environment. These chemicals can contaminate soil, waterways, and even the air we breathe, impacting ecosystems and potentially harming wildlife.

Furthermore, the valuable resources used in manufacturing these toys go to waste when they are discarded. This not only adds to the depletion of natural resources but also increases the energy and raw materials needed for producing new toys from scratch.

Children’s Computers

Eco-friendly

Toy recycling isn’t just an eco-friendly choice; it’s also an opportunity to teach children about sustainability and responsible waste management. Encouraging them to participate in recycling their old toys instills valuable lessons about reducing waste and preserving the planet for future generations.

Here are some fascinating facts about toy recycling:

  1. Resource Conservation: Recycling one ton of electronic devices can recover as much gold as mining almost 20 tons of gold ore.
  2. Material Recovery: Toys contain various materials such as plastics, metals, and electronic components, all of which can be repurposed through recycling. For instance, plastic toys can be shredded and melted down to create new products, reducing the need for raw materials.
  3. Environmental Impact: Improper disposal of electronic toys can lead to toxic substances seeping into the soil and water, posing severe health risks to communities living nearby.

Please consider, recycling old, damaged, or unused electrical, electronic, and battery-operated toys as its holds immense benefits for our planet. It minimizes e-waste, conserves valuable resources, and helps in creating a cleaner, healthier environment for all. By embracing toy recycling as a habit, we can pave the way for a more sustainable future and teach our children the importance of caring for the Earth while they play and grow.

Games Controllers

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 

Electronic Toys

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

 

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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.

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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