45% of all Electrical waste (WEEE) items put on the market recycled in 2013
October 28, 2014
View and Listen to… WEEE Ireland on RTE 9 news , radio news at 1
45% of all Electrical waste (WEEE) items put on the market recycled in 2013 but ‘non-authorised’ collections still creating an environmental headache
New e-waste legislations sets target of 65% of WEEE items purchased each year to be recycled through authorised systems by 2019
o 25,000tonnes of electrical waste was collected by WEEE Ireland in 2013 including:
o 505,000 units of Large household appliances
o 5,512 000 units Small household appliances
o 2,576,000 units of Lamps
o 432,000 units of TVs – the equivalent weight of 11 Boeing 747s
o 66,000 units of Fridge/freezers – the weight of over 4,330 Renault Clios
PRESS RELEASE
Ireland needs to put a stop to rogue collection and hoarding of electrical items (WEEE) if new EU recycling targets are to be met; warns WEEE Ireland today as they announce their 2013 recycling figures. WEEE Ireland, the Irish compliance scheme for electrical and battery recycling today released the results of their annual report, revealing an overall increase in the tonnage of WEEE recycled in Ireland for the year. However, a change in certain recycling behaviour is required if Ireland is to achieve a significant increase in WEEE take back by 2019.
In 2013, 25,651 tonnes of WEEE was collected and recycled by WEEE Ireland, this equates to 45%of all WEEE items placed on the market by their members. These figures are an increase on previous years, but show a significant gap of 55%of WEEE items on the market that are not being disposed of correctly and entering the proper WEEE recycling channels.
Ireland needs to recycle all types of electrical waste, anything with a battery or a plug is considered WEEE. WEEE Ireland encourages the public to recycle more electronic waste especially for the smaller appliances used around the house like DVD players, old computers, hairdryers, batteries and energy saving lamps. It is very important that all electrical waste is handed over to an authorised WEEE collection point, local authority recycling centres, electrical retailers or WEEE Ireland special collection events. All WEEE must be recorded and treated as per the new EU standards in order to prevent harm being done to the environment.
To coincide with the launch of their 2013 annual report, WEEE Ireland have also launched an infographic to explain how you can participate in improving the recycling figure and what electrical products can be recycled from each room of the house.
Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland, said; ”The continued rise in the number of ‘non-authorised’ collections and improper recycling of WEEE being carried out across the country is of huge concern to us. Despite the recycling of unwanted electrical and battery waste being free and easy to do, not all of this waste is making its way back into an authorised system. As a result of these ‘rogue’ collections Ireland may be at risk of not achieving its challenging future EU recycling targets. The other issue here is that rogue collectors are not properly recycling WEEE, which is a serious issue for the environment.”
Another factor that WEEE Ireland has identified as contributing to the 55% of WEEE items on the market that are not being recycled correctly is the number of items that people are hoarding in their homes. Households up and down the country have many items of WEEE waste sitting idle that could be recycled.”
Mr Donovan added; “During the Saorview campaign we saw an unprecedented rise in the number of televisions recycled. People tend to store electrical items in the garage, under the stairs, in attics, instead of simply bringing it to an authorised collection for free recycling. We are urging people not to keep electrical waste and waste batteries lying around the house.”
WEEE Ireland have outlined a number of actions that will make it as easy as possible for households to recycle their items through an authorised system and increase our overall recycling rates ensuring that we achieve our new EU recycling targets by 2018:
- Bring electrical waste to an authorised collection point
- Bring electrical waste to FREE WEEE Ireland collection events
- Give electrical waste to retailers for recycling
- Bring electrical waste to Local Authority Recycling