Generation Waste: WEEE Ireland calls on Irish Households to Power up for Inaugural International E-Waste Recycling Day!
October 8, 2018
An average of 30kg of e-waste presented for recycling each year by each Irish Household
Households throughout the country are being encouraged to supercharge their electrical and electronic waste recycling efforts to mark the inaugural International E-Waste Day, being hosted by WEEE Ireland on 13 October 2018.
The first ever International E-Waste Day comes as an ever-increasing amount of e-waste is being produced worldwide. It is estimated that 50 million tonnes of e-waste will be generated globally in 2018. Half of this is personal devices such as toasters, tools, toys and tech, with the remainder being larger household appliances, heating and cooling equipment.
Launching International E-Waste day at the WEEE Ireland conference “WEEE Generation: Future Proofing Through Innovation and Excellence” Leo Donovan, chief executive of WEEE Ireland said: “As consumers we all have a responsibility. Modern tech and household appliances are part of our daily lives and it is up to each of us to ensure we recycle it correctly at its end of life.
“Each household in Ireland recycled 30kg of electrical waste free through our many collection points in 2017, but we know that there is still a considerable amount of electronic produce being hoarded and escaping the authorised recycling channels. Our message this e-Waste Day is to recycle FREE at local authority recycling centres or electrical retailers which can be found on our map on weeeireland.ie”
Only 20% of global e-waste is recycled each year, which means that 40 million tonnes of e-waste per annum is either placed in landfill, burned or illegally traded and treated in a sub-standard way and this is despite 66% of the world’s population being covered by e-waste legislation.
Irish households have much to be proud of, and last year WEEE Ireland recycled 30kg of e-waste per household. Irish Households have helped to power Ireland ahead among our European counterparts, exceeding EU recycling targets with over two-thirds of all WEEE products placed on the market now being taken back for recycling. However, there is no room for complacency. More than a quarter of all global e-waste is generated in Europe, and with our recycling targets rising year-on-year, Irish households can’t afford to take the (electric) kettle off the boil!
Speaking about the first International E-Waste Day, which takes place on Saturday 13 October, Karmenu Vella, EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said “This is an important and timely initiative because e-waste continues to increase in volume and the materials it contains are essential for manufacturing new products and satisfying consumer demand for e-products.”
He continued, “Even in the EU, which leads the world in e-waste recycling, only 35% of e-waste is officially reported as properly collected and recycled. Awareness raising initiatives impacting positively on collection rates will not only help member countries achieving the WEEE Directive’s targets but also help Europe in developing the Circular Economy.”
Householders are being asked to make a powered-up effort to recycle their e-waste on to celebrate International e-Waste Day. With hundreds of free recycling points nationwide at local authority recycling centres and electrical retailers, recycling your e-waste has never been easier. Whether it is an old washing machine, kettle or hair dryer that you’ve been meaning to clear out, International E-Waste Day is the day to do it! Further information and recycling drop off points can be found here.