People are being urged to do a clear out this weekend and recycle any old electronic items for International E-waste Day. 

In 2020, 40% of electronic items in Ireland were recycled - a figure that falls short of a target of 65%.

Globally, a study by the University of California, Irvine found that between 2014 and 2020, the world's emissions from electronic devices and the associated waste increased by 53%. 

Greater recycling would reduce that figure and Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Ireland said many people are simply never think to do so. 

“It’s big numbers and it’s small, invisible and unassuming items,” Head of Environmental Management and Compliance Elizabeth O’Reilly told Breakfast Briefing.  

“We know that everything with a plug or a battery can be recycled but do we know that includes old and broken USB sticks, small remote-control toys, your smoke detectors that may be replaced recently? 

“The things that aren’t so obvious.”

'Some $10 billion of recoverable resources are just lost.'

Ms O’Reilly said most of a device’s components are “recoverable” and greater recycling would alleviate pressure on the planet’s diminishing resources. 

“Think of all the plastic, the electronics, the strategic materials, the lithium in the batteries they contain,” she said. 

“Globally, it adds up to some phenomenal numbers - some $10 billion (€9.5 billion) of recoverable resources are just lost. 

“It’s a wasted opportunity and it means we have to mine elsewhere and extract materials all over the globe to fuel and to power and to make new products.” 

Recycling bins, 02/10/2023. Image: Alamy.com

Ms O’Reilly said she is sure there are things in her own home that she should recycle at some point. 

“I know there’s a box of cables for devices that we probably don’t even have anymore,” she said. 

“I’m certainly [guessing] that there’s a few remote-controls that I don’t know what they control. 

“But there’s batteries in them, there’s electronics, there’s materials and we can recycle them right here in Ireland - that’s really good news - and that’s what we’re trying to promote for International E-Waste Day.” 

Help

For those unsure of how to recycle their e-waste, guidance is available online. 

“It’s free and easy to manage them and to recycle them - which is the really good news,” she said.

“If you pop the WEEIreland.ie website, you’ll see thousands of collection points near all around the country.” 

Overall, Ireland has a recycling rate of 41% and is committed to reaching an EU target of 55% by the year 2025.

Main image: Electronic waste. Picture by: Alamy.com