Spring into Action this April!
April 10, 2017
Spring into Action this April for National Spring Clean Month
Clear out the House and clean up the Community!
Longer evenings and warmer weather means Spring is finally upon us. The countdown to summer is finally on and after a long winter, we are ready to throw out the deck chairs and light up the BBQ. However, as the sun begins to shine the dust, grime and overcrowded spaces in our homes become noticeable. April can be a great time to tackle the dirt that has built up over winter and clear out the clutter taking up unnecessary space. It’s time to throw open the windows and let in that fresh spring air. What better time as well to get outdoors and help clean up the community? Community led clean-up initiatives organised by an Taisce for National Spring Clean Week will take place across the country.
Cleaning up doesn’t have to be a chore. WEEE Ireland have put together some tips for how you can clear out the house and clean up the community for National Spring Clean Month!
Clear out the House
Facing into the clutter that somehow accumulates over winter can seem so daunting. It can be hard to know where to start and where to put everything. Here are some of our top tips to tackle the clutter:
Tackle one room at a time, and when you have all of your unwanted items gathered – here’s how you can dispose of it correctly:
• Anything with a plug or battery, including appliances and gadgets small or large, can be recycled at your nearest Electrical Retailer stores or one of WEEE Ireland’s public collection days at various locations across the country. For a full list of locations see here. Alternatively, you can recycle your WEEE waste at your local Civic Amenity Site any time, for free. Batteries, bulbs and other lighting equipment will also be accepted at any of these points.
• Bring unwanted clothing to your local Enable Ireland store, where they will ensure it goes to a better home. Aerosols and paint cans should be taken to your local recycling centre, while paper and plastic can be put in your green bin at home.
Take the time to find out what you can recycle free at your Local Authority recycling centre. There are 4 waste areas in Ireland, which organise events and education materials.
Southern area: http://southernwasteregion.ie/
Eastern/Midlands area: http://emwr.ie/
Connacht/Ulster Waste Region: http://www.curwmo.ie/
Most schools are now part of the Green Schools Programmes which encourages children to recycle waste materials from their home using in-school recycling programmes. Your kids will love the support and appreciate any recyclable waste you can give them. WEEE Ireland also run a dedicated school battery recycling initiative ‘WEEE Pledge’. EVERY battery recycled in schools also helps to raise vital funds for LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice.
Clean up the Community
As part of national spring clean month, an Taisce have organised nationwide litter collections, a full list of which can be found here. If your area isn’t on the list, don’t panic! Registering your own litter collection in your town couldn’t be easier. Registration can be done quickly online here and you will then receive a free kit in the post to help you on your litter collection crusade. For anyone living near a beach, you can participate in a #2minutebeachclean, a global initiative supported by An Taisce’s Clean Coasts which encourages anyone walking on the beach to take two minutes to pick up a few bits of marine litter, snap a pic and share it on social using the #2minutebeachclean hashtag. If you’re not close to a beach you can use the same idea to share your #2minutestreetclean pictures on social too.
ENDS
About WEEE Ireland
WEEE Ireland (Waste, Electrical and Electronic Equipment) is a not for profit organisation, founded by Producers of electrical and electronic appliances to help them comply with the legal obligations imposed by the WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC. WEEE Ireland manages the collection for recycling of household WEEE, lighting equipment and batteries from authorised collection points, on behalf of its Producer members. The WEEE Ireland Annual Environmental report can be found at www.weeeireland.ie
Our objective is to provide cost effective compliance for Producers to meet the requirements of the WEEE Regulations 2005 and Battery Regulations 2008, whilst minimising the cost to the consumer.
About WEEE & battery recycling
The WEEE Ireland scheme operates on behalf of Producers of battery and electrical appliances to encourage people at home and in work to manage their electrical and battery waste responsibly. Waste batteries can then be deposited in larger WEEE Ireland blue boxes at local battery retailers, recycling centres and public collection days. Recycling electrical items and batteries diverts them from landfill and ensures any heavy metals and chemicals they contain are managed in an environmentally responsible way.
Recycling also saves on natural resources as many of the component parts of batteries can be used again in manufacturing. For more information, please log on to weeeireland.ie, or join the campaign on facebook.com/weeeireland