32 Reduce, Reuse Repurpose and Recycling Tips

Go Green for Life

Recycling is an easy way to protect our environment and climate while ensuring the wellbeing of our community for the next generation. However, the success of recycling depends on the active participation of every member of the community including kids of all ages.

Eco-Friendly Reuse.

By everyone doing a little, we all can reduce the amount of waste that is deposited in the landfill or incinerated. Thinking about the reuse of materials made from recycled materials helps maintain the recycling circle and its part in the circular economy.

We have listed 32 recycling tips – You might adapt some!
  1. Use both sides of the page when writing or drawing
  2. Give your kids or local schools part used printed paper for drawing
  3. Bring your food to school or work using a reusable tubs
  4. Rent or hire school books and supplies (reuse)
  5. Hire gardening tools that you only use occasionally
  6. Make a bird feeder by reusing a medium size plastic bottle 
  7. Opt for low-energy light bulbs
  8. Give your unwanted clothes a second life
  9. Reuse and repair as much as possible – shoes, clothes etc.
  10. Offer seasonal kids costumes to clothes to others as your kids grow!  
  11. Choose to buy bars of soap
  12. Choose long life or durable products e.g. reusable razors or ink pens
  13. Use rechargeable batteries in home appliances
  14. Avoid unnecessary purchasing of occasion products, e.g. Christmas, Easter
  15. Offer gifts, such as tickets for a show, sports event or concert leading to reduce material content
  16. Choose eco-friendly products – read the labels
  17. Buys product with less packaging
  18. Buy regularly use products in bulk, e.g. canned and jarred products.
  19. Reuse shopping bags
  20. Use refillable products e.g. coffee, loss tea
  21. Drink tap water
  22. Prepared food at home for picnics while reusing flasks, tubs, knives, forks, and reusable carry bags
  23. Choose fresh food rather than processed food, healthier and less packaging
  24. Bake cakes and muffins instead of buying! 
  25. Limited home and office printing, share files over email or file sharing tools e.g. dropbox
  26. Recycle ink cartridges – where you purchased your ink! 
  27. Bring a mug and glass to work to refill coffee, tea or water during the working day
  28. Approach office supply companies about purchasing used office equipment
  29. Cycle to work or college rather than taking the bus or car
  30. Car share where distances are longer and where public transport is not accessible.
  31. Take your uneaten food home from restaurants in a doggy bag.
  32. Composite garden cuttings to create a natural fertilizer

The 4 Rs

In Ireland and across Europe, the focus on the 3 R’s has increased over recent years As recovery of resources through, reduce, reuse, repurposing and recycling has increased it has become increasingly important for consumers to take ownership and steps themselves to ensure products purchases can be reused, repurposed or recycled using accessible and economically sustainable solutions.

Reuse In Ireland – Click here to go larger

Recycle IT – What we are doing?

As we recover from COVID 19 and vaccines are offered Recycle IT are again offering electrical recycling collections directly to people’s homes. Prior to the pandemic we delivered up to 2000 leaflets a week promoting our free community collection service and would plan to achieve that number again soon!

We encourage people to take advantage of this free drop off and cost-effective personal and business collections. We do offer and safely manage services to community groups, charity organisations, schools and colleges so rest assured we have a service to match your needs.

By recycling your waste electrical and electronic equipment you help the environment and our organisation create training and employment opportunities that otherwise would not exist.

If you have questions or would like to arrange a personal collection from your home or business, please call 01 4578321 or email: info@recycleit.ie.  You can also visit our website to learn more about our work and our recent awards.

Recycle IT – Truck

Cycle and Recycle your Bikes

Sport Ireland research has found the number of Irish people partaking in individual sports, such as cycling, has increased significantly when compared to the same time last year. The survey was undertaken in three waves from February to April 2020.

Despite the challenges imposed by Covid-19 restrictions the number of people cycling regularly is estimated to have increased by 220,000. You will find the full report here.

Cycling in Dublin
Cycling in Dublin

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 in Ireland is a celebration and promotion of all that’s great about bikes and cycling. Held in June of each year bike-themed events are organized by Irish local authorities, community groups and cycling groups throughout Ireland  This year the National Bike Weeks was rescheduled for September. You can learn more about and maybe take part between 19th – 27th September 2020. Just visit bikeweek.ie

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.

Cycling in Dublin City
Cycling in Dublin City

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.

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

IMG_0453 (2)
Recycle IT – Repak Award Winner 2019 – WEEE Champion