Tag: metal

Cycle and Recycle your Bikes

On By JMCEIn Awards, Climate change, Collections, Dublin, Event, Family, NewsLeave a comment

Recent Trend

A study for the National Transport Authority (NTA) released in 2024 shows walking and cycling in the Dublin area takes 530,000 cars off the streets every day. This has to be good news.

Trips taken on foot, by bike and by wheeling – using mobility scooters or wheelchairs – instead of cars, prevents around 680,000 car journeys daily. The study say, 25% of adults cycle at least once a week in the Dublin Metropolitan Area. The study also suggests, 72% of residents support building cycle tracks physically separated from traffic and pedestrians even where that means less room for other traffic. – You and read and learn more here.

Cycling In Dublin City

Environment and Bikes!

The bike is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally sustainable means of transportation, fostering environmental stewardship and health. With this in mind, the United Nations General Assembly decided to dedicate the 3rd of June as World Bicycle Day – Add this to World Environment Day on June 5th and we are on a real winner!

These days encourage awareness and action on health, wellbeing and the protection of our environment. World Environment Day is the “people’s day” for doing something to take care of the Earth. Recycle IT believe these two “UN” days can work in harmony!

2020 Cycling Eayet29WAAAFS4z
Dublin City Council – Cycling in Dublin

World Bicycle Day aims to emphasize and advance the use of the bicycle as a means of fostering sustainable development, strengthening education, including physical education, for children and young people, promoting health, preventing disease, promoting tolerance, mutual understanding, and respect and facilitating social inclusion and a culture of peace. All these aims can really be achieved using a bike while also helping us travel without creating carbon miles.

Celebrate the bicycle

Initiatives promote cycling at both national and local levels can help build physical and mental health and well-being and develop a sustainable and environmentally friendly culture of cycling in society.

Dublin Bikes
Reuse Dublin Bikes

National Bike Week

Bike Week is a celebration and promotion of the benefits of cycling. Bike Week 2024 will take place from Saturday 11th to Sunday 19th May 2024. Bike Week 2024 events will be posted on this page over the coming weeks.

Here are 8 reasons to celebrate the bike (some encouragement)

  1. The bicycle is a simple, affordable, reliable and clean way to get about.
  2. The bike is environmentally friendly and is a sustainable means of transportation;
  3. The bicycle can serve as a tool for social, community and economic development
  4. Cycling can help people access education, health care, and sporting activities.
  5. The union between the bicycle and the user creates an immediate awareness of the local environment you are cycling through.
  6. Using a bike saves time, reduces traffic and helps you arrive on time.
  7. The bike has a positive impact on climate with fewer carbon emissions.
  8. Biking can help grow your social circles, real friends and enjoyment of life.

Encourage Cycling and Environmental Awareness.

Recycle IT want to encourage as many people as possible to read and share this blog post. Then throughout the summer weeks and months take the bike out and bring friends and family along to discover your local environment.

As the summer sun shines there is no better time to get on the bike and grow your awareness of the local area. This can happen in the full knowledge that you are improving your health and reducing environmental harm.

Damaged Bike in Crash? Make a Claim.
Damaged Bike

Recycle IT and Bike Recycling

Recycle IT are happy to accept old bikes for free recycling. Just drop your old bike off with us Monday to Friday in Clondalkin. We also accept bikes from communities all over Dublin as part of our residents door to door community collection service.

Reuse

Members of the Recycle IT team not only recycle bikes but cycle regularly. Where possible we reuse and recycle bikes and bike parts.  At the time of writing this post, we have a staff member waiting to get a bike frame and parts for reuse and another who just rebuild a bike from recycled parts. Once on the road, these bikes will enable easy, affordable and environmentally friendly travel into work.

A small number of bikes may go for reuse depending and quality and repair requirements. All remaining bikes are recycled safely.

Old Bike @ Recycle IT

Community Grant Scheme – Bike Week 2024

Dublin City Council, with funding from the National Transport Authority, is pleased to announce that they have a community grant scheme for groups that would like to organize events to celebrate cycling during Bike Week. Click here to learn more.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT, are a social enterprise offering electrical, electronic and metal recycling. Services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT are supported by Pobal, the Dormant Accounts Fund, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Leinster.

For further details about our services call us on 01 4578321, email info@recycleit.ie or visit the Recycle IT website at www.recycleit.ie

Recycle IT – Repak Award Winner 2023 – Community Recycler of the Year

The Benefits of Metal Recycling

On By JMCEIn Electronic and Electrical RecyclingLeave a comment

In the bustling city of Dublin, where progress meets tradition, there is a silent hero working towards a greener future – Recycle IT. This innovative recycling and collection service not only aids in environmental preservation through electrical, electronic, and metal recycling but also plays a pivotal role in creating valuable training and employment opportunities for the community.

Metal Table Frames

Change

Over the years, Ireland has witnessed the transformative power of recycling. The shift towards recycling metals safely has gained momentum as awareness grows about the environmental impact of mining and manufacturing raw materials. Recycling metal not only conserves natural resources but also significantly reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

In communities across Ireland, recycling has become more than just an environmental responsibility; it has evolved into a symbol of community strength and unity with people coming together to do more during their spare time. Recycle IT is trying to support this movement and contribute to the social fabric of Dublin by not only promoting sustainability but also fostering employment and skills development.

Metal Office Storage Units

Creating value

Recycle IT understands the importance of providing worthwhile training and employment opportunities to people distanced from the employment market. By incorporating real work opportunities into their recycling and collection service, the team have effectively turned a routine activity into a source of community empowerment. On the job training offered by Recycle IT equips individuals with the skills needed for various aspects of the recycling process, from customer service and collection to sorting and processing.

The value of metal recycling in Ireland goes beyond environmental conservation. It is a catalyst for positive change within communities, offering a chance for individuals to learn, grow, and contribute to a sustainable future. Recycle IT’s commitment to creating employment positions aligns with the broader vision of building resilient communities that can thrive in an eco-conscious world.

Metal Gate

Some facts

  • Worldwide steel is the most recycled metal, with an estimated 600 million tonnes re-cycled yearly.
  • Recycling metal is estimated to create 36 times more jobs than extracting new metal ores.
  • All scrap metal recycling is more environmentally friendly than extracting and processing new ore.
  • Recycling metal generates 97% LESS mining waste and uses 40% LESS water.
  • China is making over 1,000 million tonnes of steel a year with 25% made from recycled scrap steel.
  • Aluminium can be infinitely recycled, but 7 million tonnes of it is still wasted yearly.
  • Recycling aluminium uses 95% less energy than primary production and each recycled tonne of aluminium saves 14,000 kWh of energy, the energy needs of an average home for approx. three years.

Using income generated

One distinctive feature of Recycle IT is the decision not to offer payment for metals received. While some may initially question this approach, it stems from a strategic commitment to community development. Instead of focusing on monetary compensation, Recycle IT channels its resources into training programs and job creation, maximizing the positive impact on the environment and community.

Metal Radiators for Recycling

By not offering payment for metals, Recycle IT is able to invest more in its social initiatives, creating a ripple effect of benefits. The money saved from avoiding direct payments is redirected towards expanding training programs, improving infrastructure, and supporting community outreach efforts. This approach transforms the recycling process from a mere transaction to a dynamic force for positive change in Dublin.

In conclusion

The story of metal recycling in Ireland, particularly in Dublin, is a tale of environmental responsibility and community empowerment. Recycle IT wants to encourage sustainable practices, not only contributing to a greener future through metal recycling but also uplifting the community through training and employment opportunities.

The decision to forgo making payments for metals received for safe recycling reflects a strategic commitment to investing in people and the community. Recycle IT as a social enterprise is always striving for a more sustainable and socially conscious Dublin, achieved by working and acting together to make a real difference.

Metal Trampoline

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

For more information about Recycle IT please click here.

Recycle IT Pakman Award Winner 2023

All Electrical Items can be Recycled?

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

Todays Electrical Equipment

In 2021 WEEE Ireland helped support the electrical recycling needs across 75% of Ireland with 120,000 fridges and 200,000 screens and many more items safely recycled.

The results for 2022 are listed in the infographic directly below and you can view the full WEEE Ireland Annual Report for 2022 here. Recycle IT are delighted to say we happily contributed to these achievements in partnership with WEEE Ireland.

WEEE Ireland Results 2022

Using Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Today adults and children at home, in school or at work find themselves using a range of electronic consumer items which all contain a variety of electrical or electronic components.

Think about the school whiteboard, the office safe, speakers, networking equipment, radios, TVs, power tools, cameras, fire alarms, printers, scanners, earbuds, cables, and plugs.

Think about home kitchens, you have cookers, toasters, kettles, coffee makers, washing machines, tumble dryers, slow cookers, fryers, smoothie makers and lots more.

These types of items are replaced and renewed regularly and the old stuff should be recycled. Last year WEEE Ireland helped us recycle 10.03 kg per head of population in Ireland.

Tumble Dryer at Recycle IT

What is WEEE?

WEEE is defined as waste electrical and electronic equipment. WEEE is really electrical items of all types which have reached the end of their useful life. Items might be damaged, outdated, unused with a charger missing. Equipment which is out of sight and out of mind.

Electrical and electronic equipment is any item with a plug or battery. It can be classed as both domestic and business with some electrical items used at home and in the workplace, for example, a kettle for making tea or coffee.  To download a list of things, click here

Recycling WEEE

Any appliance or equipment that operates on electricity or batteries has the potential to cause damage to our environment if it is not disposed of in a safe and responsible manner.

The average product life-cycle of electronic goods is becoming shorter and the amount of outdated, damaged or broken equipment that is being thrown away is increasing all the time. Dealing with the electrical and electronic waste which households and organisations create is a specialist role and one which if carried out well can improve our environment and create training and employment opportunities.

Cooker and Oven at Recycle IT

Everyday electrical and electronic waste items include:

  • Large household appliances (refrigerators/freezers, washing machines, dishwashers)
  • Small household appliances (toasters, coffee makers, irons, hair dryers)
  • Information technology (IT) and telecommunications equipment (personal computers, telephones, mobile phones, laptops, printers, scanners, photocopiers)
  • Consumer electronics (televisions, stereo equipment, electric toothbrushes, transistor radios)
  • Lighting equipment (fluorescent lamps and LED bulbs)
  • Electrical and electronic tools (handheld drills, saws, screwdrivers)
  • Toys (PlayStation, Xbox, Wii)
  • Medical equipment systems (excluding implanted and infected products)
  • Monitoring and control instruments (security and alarm equipment)
  • Automatic dispensers.
  • Cables and wire.

Recycle IT has assembled a comprehensive list of electrical equipment you can recycle. The list can be viewed or downloaded in PDF format by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom of the webpage

Small Electrical Items at Recycle IT

What to do?

Humans, as consumers of electrical equipment, have to ensure items are safely recycled at an authorised waste facility (permitted by the Local Authority or Licensed by the EPA). These include Authority Civic Amenity Facilities or a local retailer on behalf of a compliance scheme (for example WEEE Ireland)

Recycle IT have a recycling facility in Dublin where we offer a free drop-off service for home and small office electrical equipment which is beyond reuse. You may also have your WEEE collected cost-effectively in Dublin and the surrounding areas, just email or call our team.

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, electronic and metal items.

Our electrical community collection service is provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT is supported by Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Leinster.

To speak with Recycle IT please call 01 4578321 or email us here

Visit our website www.recycleit.ie

Recycle IT – Winner – Dublin City Social Enterprise Award 2022