CSR and Sustainability 

Recycle IT  has a commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices and environmental sustainability is a core focus of corporate social responsibility. 

CSR aims to ensure that companies conduct their business in a way that is ethical. This means taking account of their social, economic and environmental impact, and consideration of human rights.

It can involve a range of activities such as:

✓  Working in partnership with local communities.

✓  Socially responsible investment (SRI).

✓  Developing relationships with employees and customers.

✓  Environmental protection and sustainability.

Some businesses have as their main purpose the fulfilment of social or environmental goals, as opposed to a business that tries to achieve its financial goals while minimizing any negative impact on society or the environment. These businesses are called Social Enterprises. Recycle IT is a social enterprise.

Source: The University of Edinburgh.

What CSR means to Recycle IT

Recycle IT endeavour to be good social and business citizens in practical terms. For CSR to be adopted within Recycle IT the concept needed to be easily understood, attainable and sustainable.

The staff team needed to know what CSR really meant and how it could be achieved in our organization. It was vital that CSR goals were easy to adopt and applicable every working day.

It is essential for our social enterprise to bring real and tangible CSR value to the working life of Recycle IT. We keep recyclers informed about our services, updated on how to recycle and educated on our overall mission. We are aware of the different capabilities, capacities, competence, and resources of individuals and organizations and offer recycling solutions to address these. 

What we endeavour to do!

Understanding personal responsibility for environmental impacts is core to our work. Our ability to thrive depends on our moral compass. We consider how all stakeholders will be affected by our activity and attempt to have a positive impact when we can. This includes: 

✓ Partnering in a sustainable supply chain.

✓ Working ethically and within the parameters for our waste collection and facility permits.

✓ Supporting not-for-profit, community-based organizations, schools and colleges with free electrical recycling services.

✓ Supporting residents and communities with free electrical recycling collections.

✓ Delivering free personal electrical recycling collections to those in need.

✓ Encouraging travel to work by bus, cycling, walking or car share  (many team members live locally).

✓ Operating a bike-to-work scheme and bike reuse initiative. 

✓ Managing transport-based recycling collections to minimise emissions and fuel usage. 

✓ Paying staff, suppliers, and creditors on time.

✓ Paying a living wage or higher.

✓ Facilitating flexible working arrangements where possible for employees and trainees.

✓ Attending events and speaking about the positive environmental, social and economic benefits of recycling electrical, electronic and pure metal equipment.

✓ Collaborating with community engagement programmes operated by third-level colleges to support graduate and post-graduate students learning.

✓ Engaging with local schools and employment organizations to offer work experience and training opportunities to people distanced from the labour market.

✓ Ensuring lights, computers, and other equipment are switched off when not in use.

✓ Installing an efficient and eco-friendly heating system.

✓ Providing a filtered water system to reduce plastic usage and carbon miles.

✓ Replacing lighting with low-energy bulbs as budget allows.

✓ Printing and photocopying only when necessary and double-sided – we rarely print emails.

✓ Recycle cardboard, canteen plastics/glass, printer and toner cartridges used in our business operations.

✓ Publishing blog posts to encourage and promote the reduce, reuse and recycling message. 

✓ Encourage the reuse of functional items rather than recycling. 

Customers, employees, suppliers, and communities are placing increasing emphasis on taking responsibility. Recycle IT look at this as an opportunity to develop and strengthen our social enterprise and its trading activities while contributing positively to our sustainability.

Recycle IT focus on challenges such as environmental protection, the well-being of employees and trainees and the delivery of recycling services to the public and organizations of all types to ensure electrical recycling is accessible, available and safe.

About Recycle IT 

Recycle IT is the only Community Electronic Recycling Social Enterprise in Dublin providing a neighbourhood collection service for all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). During 2022 Recycle IT offered collection services to 40,000 homes and apartments and thousands of schools, community groups and businesses across Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE including monitors, computers, cookers, and TVs.

Recycle IT, is a social enterprise offering electrical, electronic and metal recycling services through drop-off and collection. Services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland and South Dublin County Council. Recycle IT is supported by Pobal and Dormant Accounts and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Dublin, Kildare, and Wicklow.

For more information on Recycle IT please call 01 4578321, email info@recycleit.ie or visit our website www.recycleit.ie