WEEE (Waste, Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Ireland is a not-for-profit organisation, founded by producers of electrical and electronic appliances to help them comply with their Extended Producer Responsibilities (EPR) and European directives.

WEEE Ireland manage the collection of household e-waste, lighting and solar PV equipment and batteries from authorised collection points for recycling and recovery, on behalf of over 1,300 industry members.

The objective for WEEE Ireland is to provide cost-effective quality compliance for producers to meet the requirements of the regulations whilst minimizing the cost to the consumer.

The organisation is at the forefront of monitoring the number of e-products being placed on the market in this country. The team are constantly seeking solutions to deal with old or unused electrical equipment once items are no longer fit for purpose. The team are key in ensuring that the valuable raw materials used in their production can be recycled, reused, given a new lease of life – or disposed of properly at end-of-life stage.

How it works

The WEEE Ireland compliance scheme has help divert millions of pieces of e-waste from landfill, supporting indigenous Irish recycling facilities and their downstream European partners to recover 83% of the material contained in this resource stream. Safe recycling happens by having good working relationships with the network of electrical retailers, Local Authority Civic and their Amenity Sites, WEEE Ireland also arrange public collection events to support members of the public to take back their old and broken appliances, devices, and waste batteries for proper environmental management.

In Dublin, WEEE Ireland has partnered with Recycle IT for over 20 years to help serve city and surrounding locations. This includes working with schools, charities and communities including residents associations and organisations of all sizes so they all can avail of safe electrical recycling opportunities. Recycle IT offer a drop off service in Clondalkin, Dublin 22 and deliver affordable recycling services to businesses across the city. To read about our work with WEEE Ireland please review the WEEE Ireland 2023 Annual Report. (Pages 48 -50).

WEEE Ireland WEEE Recovery Rates 2022

WEEE Ireland component material recovery performance exceeds the required target in all categories supporting resource efficiency and circularity in the WEEE sector. An average of 97% of material across the WEEE categories was recovered for use again in manufacturing or final energy recovery. In 2023 80% of material was recycled across all categories with an average recovery rate of 96% achieved.

Achievements

The current 65% collection target for WEEE in Ireland is not fit for purpose. It requires Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) takeback volumes 65% by weight of what was sold in Ireland on average over three preceding years.

It does not allow for longer lifecycles of certain appliance types, nor does it account for WEEE managed outside of the authorised system or count Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) in still working order that is hoarded, in use or being reused.

Despite WEEE Ireland compliance scheme financing the collection of more than 40,000 tons of WEEE on behalf of Members – our highest annual volume to date – WEEE Ireland reported a 54% takeback rate for 2022, and 53% for 2023 impacted by increased consumption rates of new electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and loss of WEEE (Waste, Electrical and Electronic Equipment) in the reported system in areas outside of the scheme’s control.

If EEE volumes that are not available for collection are removed i.e., longer use of products or long life products such as heat pumps or PV panels, that has considerable impact and demonstrates how a NEW and effective WEEE Target must be introduced to properly measure WEEE recycling achievements. To learn more download the full reports for 2022 and 2023 below.

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