Tag: recycle

ERP Ireland Encourages Public to Embrace Tech Reuse, Repair, and Recycling This World Earth Day

Tuesday, 22nd April is World Earth Day and the European Recycling Platform (ERP), Ireland’s only pan-European compliance scheme for WEEE and Waste Batteries, is calling on households to stop tech hoarding and consider reuse, repair or recycling their old or broken electrical items.
Whether its cluttering kitchen cupboards or stashed away in the infamous man drawer Irish homes, attics and garden sheds are full of forgotten electrical items. According to new Coyne Research commissioned by ERP, 1 in 3 adults claim they are holding on to unused electrical items because they haven’t got around to recycling them (32%). A further 15% say they are holding onto old electronics because they might repair them in future.
“Irish homes are full of old and forgotten mobile phones, laptops, tablets and gadgets that we haven’t touched in years,” says James Burgess, Country General Manager at ERP. “World Earth Day, just after Easter, is the perfect moment to take stock and do something positive for the planet. We want people to consider how their old tech can have a new lease of life, either by being repaired, or by being recycled so it’s components can be used again.”
Time to Close the Loop
ERP’s research also reveals a shift in how Irish consumers view technology as refurbished tech grows in popularity.
  • 44% of consumers have bought second-hand or refurbished electronics before (44%).
  • Gen Z are leading the charge, with 3 in 5 (60%) opting for refurbished tech, compared to just 1 in 4 (26%) Baby Boomers.
  • Smartphones top the list of most commonly purchased refurbished items (51%), followed by laptops (26%) and tablets (14%).
  • Quality, price, and warranty matter most to consumers when purchasing refurbished motivators.
  • And tellingly, there’s been a +6% increase in people holding onto old electronics with the intention to repair them in the past year but not getting round to it.
This World Earth Day, ERP is reminding the public that repairing and recycling are both central to ensuring a circular economy in Ireland.
“We need to move away from a throwaway culture – and that starts at home,” continues Burgess. “We’re asking everyone to take a moment to clear out those forgotten items and consider bringing them for repair where possible or taking them to a local recycling centre if needed. Don’t let them gather dust – let them make a difference.”
Free Recycling
This week, ERP Ireland launches its ERP Free Electrical Drop Off Events schedule for 2025 with events announced for Cavan, Clare, Fingal Dublin, Kerry, Meath, and Monaghan. The programme offers householders an accessible central collection point to bring their unused and broken electrical items and used batteries for recycling. ERP Ireland also partnered with Lidl Ireland to offer a series of free household electrical recycling events at some of their stores.
Find your nearest ERP FREE Electrical recycling Drop Off event at www.erp-recycling.ie

Fairphone continues quest for device longevity by selling refurbished phones

Fairphone, the Dutch social enterprise building a market for ethical smartphones, will today start selling refurbished devices – Fairphone 3, New Life Edition – via its website, originally released in September 2019.

In line with Fairphone’s mission to promote longevity in smartphones to reduce e-waste and save valuable resources, the refurbished phones will complement the existing offer of new Fairphone devices currently available.

These pre-owned phones have been refurbished in France and tested to ensure 100% functionality. They come with a new or almost-new battery, guaranteeing at least 80% of the original capacity. They have the same 2-year manufacturing warranty originally reserved for new devices of this model. The amount of refurbished phones is limited and will be sold while stocks last. Refurbished Fairphone3+ devices will be available in the coming weeks

Its modular design also allows for easier refurbishing and upgrading, since broken parts can be replaced. The company gives refurbished Fairphone devices a second life, a logical step in its quest for device longevity and a circular economy.

About Fairphone

Fairphone is building a market for ethical phones and motivating the industry to act more responsibly. We design, produce and sell smartphones to uncover the supply chain behind our products, raise awareness for the most urgent issues, and prove that it’s possible to do things differently. Together with our partners and collaborators, we’re working to make caring for people and the planet a natural part of doing business.

Young offenders of recycling dumping used batteries in bins WEEE Ireland study finds

Young consumers are being urged to stop binning used batteries – as a new survey reveals almost half of 18-34-year-olds are tossing them in the trash.

The WEEE Ireland study found that despite warnings around the environmental and safety hazards of incorrect disposal of end-of-life batteries, behavioural change is urgently needed amongst the younger generation.

“They are often lauded as the most environmentally conscious, yet the survey shows a worrying 43% of adults under the age of 34, actually throw their used batteries in general waste bins instead of recycling them,” said Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland.

“Binning batteries means that a range of really valuable resources will never be recycled. We need a sea change in behaviour amongst this cohort in order to properly address the problem.” 

The survey of 1,000 people, conducted online by Empathy Research last month, reveals that more than a quarter (28%) of people are unaware that batteries contain valuable resources such as cobalt, zinc, nickel and lithium, which can be used again.

Over 55s are the most eco-conscious, with just 9% binning batteries – the lowest of all age categories – while 81% know they contain valuable materials.

Only 2% of over 55s hoard them, but this rises to 26% for 18-34 year olds.

Data across all age groups shows a total of 16% of the population binning and 6% hoarding batteries, while the vast majority who do recycle them, use retailers (47%), recycling centres (17%), WEEE Ireland collection events (16%) and local schools (11%).

Separate data from WEEE Ireland shows Ireland achieved a 46% battery recycling rate in 2021, reaching its EU Directive obligations.

There was a 16% increase in the amount of batteries recycled by Irish households, in line with increased consumption and greater usage of batteries in everyday products.

The spike in recycling is equivalent to 15 AA batteries saved from landfill per person – an increase of two per person on 2020.

“This small change made a huge difference and we are urging everyone to again recycle at least two more AA batteries in 2022 to reach our target – and to stop and think before throwing them in the bin,” said Mr Donovan.

“Disposing of used batteries properly is as simple as consumers bagging them up on their next shopping or recycling trip. 

“Any retailer or supermarket that sells batteries will take them back for recycling. That’s in addition to the hundreds of recycling centres across the country.

“For the millions of batteries not recycled properly every year, we lose precious elements and important resources that can only be replaced by mining. The environmental and social costs of extracting and processing the materials required for battery manufacturing, can be huge. 

“The world will require much less mining for materials if we can recycle more spent ones.” 

However, Mr Donovan said that as battery sales soar to cater for the growing demand for electric vehicle and e-mobility devices, these targets will become harder to reach if we don’t get into the habit of recycling more.
Every battery recycled by WEEE Ireland goes towards a donation fund to support the vital work provided by LauraLynn, Ireland’s only Children’s Hospice. This year’s €40,000 donation brings its overall total to €520,000 since the partnership first began 11 years ago.