Tag: lifestyle

Reuse and Recycling Tips – Refreshed for 2026

On 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.

Small Steps Matter

Reuse and Recycling Tips

  1. Use both sides of paper when writing or drawing.
  2. Give partially used printed paper to children or local schools for drawing.
  3. Bring food to school or work in reusable containers.
  4. Rent or hire schoolbooks and supplies instead of buying new.
  5. Hire gardening tools that are only used occasionally.
  6. Make a bird feeder by reusing a medium-sized plastic bottle.
  7. Choose low-energy light bulbs at home and in the office.
  8. Give unwanted clothes a second life by donating or reusing them.
  9. Reuse and repair items such as shoes and clothing whenever possible.
  10. Pass on seasonal children’s costumes as your children grow.
  11. Choose bar soap instead of liquid soap in plastic bottles.
  12. Buy long-lasting, durable products such as reusable razors and refillable pens.
  13. Use rechargeable batteries for household appliances.
  14. Avoid unnecessary purchases for one-off occasions (e.g. Christmas or Easter).
  15. Give experience-based gifts such as show tickets, sports events, or concerts.
  16. Choose eco-friendly products by reading and understanding labels.
  17. Buy products with minimal or no packaging.
  18. Purchase regularly used household products in bulk.
  19. Reuse shopping bags when shopping.
  20. Use refillable products such as pasta, rice, coffee, and loose-leaf tea.
  21. Drink tap water from reusable bottles.
  22. Donate old books, toys, and games to charities, libraries, or schools.
  23. Reuse glass jars for storage or household purposes.
  24. Compost food scraps and garden waste.
  25. Repair small appliances instead of replacing them.
  26. Buy second-hand furniture, bikes, and electronics.
  27. Swap items with friends, neighbors, or community groups.
  28. Use cloth napkins and towels instead of disposable paper products.
  29. Repurpose old clothing into cleaning cloths or craft materials.
  30. Choose digital bills, tickets, and receipts whenever possible.
  31. Reuse envelopes, folders, and packaging materials.
  32. Return printer cartridges and electronics to recycling collection points.
  33. Choose products made from recycled materials.
  34. Use reusable coffee cups for takeaway drinks.
  35. Freeze leftovers to reduce food waste.
  36. Share rarely used items such as ladders or power tools.
  37. Turn old towels and blankets into pet bedding.
  38. Use beeswax wraps instead of plastic wrap or foil.
  39. Mend or upcycle old furniture instead of replacing it.
  40. 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.

Oxfam – Click to Learn More

Buy Social with Pace Dublin

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

Buy Outdoor Planters, Tables, Benches & More

If you’re looking to buy wooden planters, garden tables, benches, or other quality wooden products as well as plants and flowers in Dublin, there’s one name you should know — Pace. But Pace is not just any business. It’s a not-for-profit social enterprise, and that makes your purchase more than just a simple buy. It’s a way to give back, support your community, and help create lasting change.

What is Pace?

Pace is a Dublin-based social enterprise that supports people who have experience with the criminal justice system. It helps them rebuild their lives, gain work skills, and reintegrate into society. Pace believes that everyone deserves a second chance. By offering real work, training, and support, Pace gives people the tools they need to move forward.

One of the ways they do this is through their woodwork and garden products workshop. That’s where the beautiful wooden planters, picnic tables, benches, and other outdoor items are made — by hand, with care, and for a great purpose.

What Can You Buy?

At Pace, you’ll find a range of high-quality, handcrafted wooden products perfect for your garden, patio, or public spaces. Some of their most popular items include:

  • Wooden Planters: Perfect for flowers, herbs, or even small trees. These planters are sturdy, well-made, and built to last through all seasons.
  • Picnic Tables: Ideal for family meals outside or community spaces. Made from strong timber, they’re great for schools, parks, or even your own backyard.
  • Garden Benches: Comfortable and stylish, these benches add charm and relaxation to any outdoor area.
  • Custom Furniture: Looking for something unique? Pace can often work with customers on custom orders too.

Each item is made using sustainable wood where possible and built to a high standard of quality. You’re not only getting something that looks good — it’s made to last.

Why Buy from a Social Enterprise?

When you buy from a regular business, the profits go to the owners or shareholders. When you buy from a social enterprise like Pace, the money goes straight back into the organisation. It supports training, jobs, and programs that help people make a fresh start.

By choosing to shop with Pace, you are:

  • Supporting rehabilitation and reintegration of people into the community.
  • Helping to reduce reoffending by giving people meaningful work.
  • Promoting sustainable, ethical shopping.
  • Backing a local Irish organisation with a big heart.

Perfect for Homes, Communities and Businesses

Whether you’re a homeowner looking to spruce up your garden, or a school or business wanting to improve your outdoor spaces, Pace can help. Many community centres, schools, housing groups, and councils across Dublin already use their products.

When you choose Pace, you’re not just getting a product — you’re becoming part of something bigger. It’s a simple action that has a powerful impact.

How to Buy

You can browse Pace’s woodwork range by visiting their workshop or contacting them directly through their website or phone. The team are happy to answer questions, talk about custom options, and help you find the right product for your needs. Visit the website shopatpace.ie, call phone, 0874061989 or email socialenterprise@paceorganisation.ie

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

Ireland’s Green Tech Revolution: Solar Panels and Vapes

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

Ireland Sees Surge in Electrical Device Sales

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

Photo by Kelly on Pexels.com

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

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

Electric & Green Tech Boom

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

Disposable Vapes: Convenience at a Cost

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

Photo by Markus Winkler on Pexels.com

Action Needed Now:

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

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

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

Recycle IT – Electrical Recycling

Services Recycle IT Offers:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Recycle IT – Mixed Electrical Equipment

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is an award-winning not for profit social enterprise providing a collection and drop off service for all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). During 2018 Recycle IT offer to drop off and collection services to thousands of homes, and businesses across Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE which includes thousands of computers, cables, monitors, microwaves, cookers, dryers and TVs and much more.

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

Recycle IT – Approved and Verified

Enjoy Summer -Garden safely and recycle!

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

Green fingers and tools!

Gardening activities offers lots of health benefits, both physically and mentally, especially during the summer months. It provides fresh produce, improves physical health, and reduces stress. Summer gardens also require specific maintenance, including proper watering, weeding, and deadheading, to keep plants thriving. 

Gardening can play a role in keeping you and your family fit and eating well across the seasons. Gardens can also be a safe place for insects, bees, birds and animals to live and thrive, spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Garden Tools

Recycling is also good for our well-being and minimises the impacts on our health and our planet. The more you recycle as items comes to the end of there ‘useful life the better! Recycling helps protect the environment for future generations. Old garden electrical, electronic and metal equipment can be recycled safely and free so do it right!

Gardening is a great way to get physical activity and beautify your home and neighborhood.  Its also important to protect yourself and take proper precautions when you are outside with tools, chemicals and insects.  Maybe take a few minutes to read up on garden safety before starting!

Summer Park Dublin

Metal garden equipment or garden tools that use electricity through self-charging or via a plug or battery, can be reused by someone new or if damaged they can be recycled with ease. This includes everyday garden equipment which is old damaged or unused. You can easily recycle Hoes & Tillers, Shovels & Rakes Metal Hand Tools, Spades & Hand Trowels, Pruning Shears & Loppers, Lawn Mowers and Leaf Blowers with Recycle IT in Dublin.

Remember, recycling garden tools benefits the environment. Recycling makes it easier to preserve natural resources, as materials such as metal and plastic are repurposed instead of being thrown away. Recycling helps reduces the amount of waste that is sent to landfills, meaning less pollution from transport vehicles and fewer harmful chemicals being released into the atmosphere which has to be good for you and your garden.

Older Garden Equipment

Old Lawnmowers for Recycling

When you buy a new electric, rechargeable or petrol lawn mower you can recycle your old mower with Recycle IT. We will dispose of it in a legal and environmentally friendly way. You can also safely recycle chainsaws, garden shredders, water pumps, lawn trimmers, garden multi-tools, grass trimmers, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, garden vacuums, pressure/power washers, string trimmers, rototillers, pole saws, household chippers, shredders and even old BBQs. If you are unsure if your item can be recycled safely just give us a call.

How to Recycle Garden Tools

Please do not dispose of electrical products used in the garden with your normal household waste bin or in a skip. Please use an electrical waste recycling centre like Recycle IT. Once the equipment was used in your home garden, school or community there is no charge for our recycling service. Petrol lawnmowers can be recycled alongside old garden metal at Recycle IT. Please make sure the lawnmower petrol tank is completely empty before collection or drop off.

Gardening Equipment

WEEE Symbols and Regulations

Remember all electrical, electronic, and battery-operated equipment should display this symbol on the packaging or the product. The symbol indicates that the product should not be disposed of with normal household waste but taken to an authorised recycling centre for safe recycling.

Each year in Ireland we generate thousands of tones of electrical waste, those items that are discarded contain a variety of materials, including metal, glass, plastics, ceramics, and precious metals and because of this complex mix of materials without specialized waste processes can create several health risks.

Irish Waste Management Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 149 of 2014) (the WEEE Regulations) are designed to promote the recovery of WEEE, and to facilitate the achievement of targets for the collection, treatment, recovery, and disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in an environmentally sound manner.

What Is WEEE Recycling?
Don’t Bin Electrical Equipment

Producers and retailers are responsible for the financing, treatment, recovery and disposal of WEEE. This means that customers (end users) buying or using household and home garden WEEE are entitled to drop off without charge at authorised recycling facilities.

You can book a cost effective collection here.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT offer recycling opportunities to home and business customers for all types of electronics equipment. AT Recycle IT, recycling is available using free, drop-off, free community collections or through a cost-effective personal or business collection. Our team will accept any old household or small office electrical items alongside all types of metal and electrical or rechargeable garden equipment.

Recycle IT as a social enterprise works in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT is supported by Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office.

To learn more about recycling electrical equipment please call Recycle IT on 01 4578321, email us or visit www.recycleit.ie

Recycle IT Partners

Recycle IT – People and Planet First Verified

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

People and Planet First Verified Matters

We’re proud to share that Recycle IT has been awarded the People and Planet First Verified status through Good Market – a platform that supports businesses creating positive change in the world. This recognition means a lot to us, and we want to explain why it matters and how it helps us continue our mission.

What is Good Market?

Good Market is more than just a marketplace. It’s a global platform that brings together businesses and organizations working for a better world. These are companies that don’t just focus on making profits, but also care deeply about people and the planet. From small farms and eco-brands to social enterprises and non-profits, Good Market connects these changemakers to customers, partners, and supporters.

They carefully review each organization before listing them. Only those that meet their high standards for social and environmental impact are approved and verified.

What is “People and Planet First Verified”?

The People and Planet First badge is a special recognition given to social enterprises that put the needs of people and the environment at the center of their work. It shows that a business is not just talking about doing good – they are actually doing it in their daily operations.

To receive this badge, businesses must:

  • Prove that they are making a real positive impact.
  • Show that they care for workers, communities, and nature.
  • Be transparent, open, and accountable.
  • Use profits to grow their mission, not just enrich owners or shareholders.

This badge is also recognized by the UN Taskforce on the Social and Solidarity Economy, making it a meaningful global standard.

Why This Matters to Recycle IT

At Recycle IT, our goal has always been simple: to reduce waste, protect the environment, and create opportunities for people in our community. We collect and recycle e-waste and other materials in a way that is safe, responsible, and helps build a cleaner world.

Getting this badge means:

  • Our efforts are being seen and validated by a trusted global community.
  • We are part of a movement that values fairness, sustainability, and care.
  • We can connect with like-minded partners, customers, and supporters around the world.

This recognition pushes us to keep improving, to do even more, and to be proud of our role in the new economy – one that is not based on exploitation, but on regeneration and inclusion.

Good for People. Good for the Planet.

The Benefits of Being Verified

Becoming People and Planet First Verified brings many benefits, especially for a mission-driven organization like ours:

  1. Trust and Credibility
    The badge shows that we meet high standards. Customers, funders, and partners can trust that we are serious about our impact. It helps us stand out in a crowded market.
  2. Global Visibility
    Good Market gives us a profile on its platform, where people from all over the world can find and support our work. This increases our reach and opens doors to new opportunities.
  3. Networking and Collaboration
    Being part of the Good Market community means we can connect with other verified enterprises, share knowledge, and work together on common goals.
  4. Continuous Support
    Good Market doesn’t just list our name – it helps us grow. They offer updates, tools, and learning resources to help us improve and stay aligned with our mission.
  5. Being a Part of Something Bigger
    We’re now part of a global movement that believes business can be a force for good. This is inspiring and motivating, and it helps us stay committed even when challenges come.

What’s Next for Recycle IT

This recognition is not the end – it’s just the beginning. We will keep working hard to serve our community, care for the planet, and offer fair, meaningful work to those who need it most. We’re looking at new ways to improve our recycling process, reduce pollution, and educate people about waste and sustainability.

A Big Thank You

We thank Good Market for this honor. And most of all, we thank our team, partners, and supporters. You are the reason we can keep doing what we do. Together, we are building a future that works for everyone. It also important to note this award was made available through a project offered by Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI) and supported by the Irish Government.

Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland

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.

Over the last 20 year Recycle IT have happily offered safe electrical and electronic recycling services to households and small and medium size organisations across a range of sectors. We offer our services all over Dublin and in surrounding areas. We are happy to offer cost effective and safe computer, laptop or tablet data destruction for home users and small offices on request.

For more information about Recycle IT please click here.

Recycle IT at Work