2012 was an extremely successful year for Ireland when it came to diverting e-waste and batteries from landfill, according to WEEE Ireland, the Irish compliance scheme for electrical and battery recycling. This year alone over 25,000 tonnes of WEEE and 472 tonnes of batteries were collected and recycled in Ireland.
In 2012, WEEE Ireland was the leading player when it came to electronic recycling in Ireland, with almost 8kg recycled per person compared to the EU target of 4kg.
WEEE Ireland is leading the way in working towards a “circular recycling economy” in Ireland. Currently, electronic waste items recycled with WEEE Ireland are sent through dedicated separation centers that ensure proper management of hazards and efficient resource recovery so materials can be sent back into manufacturing where they re-enter the e-cycling life cycle and end up in the home once more.
WEEE Ireland is working towards a 2019 target of helping Ireland to achieve 65% (approximately 12kg p.p.) take back of e-waste from the Irish market on behalf of its members – the importers and manufacturers of electrical appliances and batteries.
Batteries can be recycled at any retailer who sells similar type batteries or your local recycling centre. Many schools are also collecting batteries participating in WEEE Ireland’s “Spread a Little Sunshine campaign”, where WEEE Ireland have teamed up with Laura Lynn for a whole year to try and recycle as many waste batteries as possible whilst also creating a fund for the children’s charity, over 472 tonnes of batteries have been recycled. A network of electrical retailer collection points, Local Authority recycling centres and over 300 special events organized by the scheme helped WEEE Ireland collect over 25,000 tonnes of electronic waste last year.
Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland, comments: “We are delighted to be in a position where we are almost doubling the EU target of 4kg of WEEE recycled per person. Currently we are taking back between 38%-40% of e-waste inIrelandand are working towards the 2019 target of helpingIrelandachieve 65% take back of electrical waste in the Irish market.”
He adds: “Here at WEEE Ireland we would like to remind people that while we are doing well we also need to be mindful of the WEEE and batteries that get placed in general bins each year which can result in hazardous leakage. With 10% of people hoarding e-waste at home, and an average of 110 batteries in every house, there is plenty of scope to improveIreland’s recycling rates. It is important that WEEE is handed over to an authorised collection point to ensure that your appliances are recycled correctly.”