06/12/2024

Nearly half of all small electronic devices in Ireland are purchased during November and December, but only ≈30% of them are recycled, according to new data from WEEE Ireland. Over 11 million small electronic items, including personal grooming devices and tech gadgets, were purchased in Ireland last year, with 4.4 million sold around Black Friday and Christmas.

Despite this high volume, only a small percentage re-enters the circular economy through recycling. For electronic toys like gaming consoles and battery-operated action figures, the recycling rate is even lower at just 10%, leaving millions of devices either improperly disposed of or unused in homes.

With 73% of Irish consumers now shopping online and electronics leading Black Friday wish lists, WEEE Ireland called on shoppers to adopt more sustainable practices, such as responsibly exchanging old electronics for new ones.

Under the EU WEEE Directive and Irish regulations, retailers—both online and in-store—are required to accept obsolete electronics for free when customers purchase new items. However, low participation by consumers remains a challenge despite these attractive take-back services.

WEEE Ireland advised shoppers to explore their retailers’ recycling options, as these services vary. Some online retailers provide collection options with deliveries, while others offer free postal or courier returns. Shoppers can also recycle their old devices in-store when purchasing new ones, preventing them from ending up in landfills.

WEEE Ireland emphasised that these small actions significantly impact the environment, conserving finite resources, reducing environmental harm, and protecting human and animal health.

The European Union’s WEEE Directive ensures consumers can return end-of-life electrical devices free of charge when purchasing replacements, supporting a circular economy and minimizing environmental damage.

To promote sustainable habits, WEEE Ireland shared these tips for Black Friday:

• Use free recycling services when buying new devices.
• Consider refurbished items or trade-in offers for replacements.
• Repair gadgets before replacing them.
• Donate functioning electronics in good condition to others.
• Use authorised collection points for broken devices beyond repair or reuse.

WEEE Ireland offers numerous collection points across the country, including local authority civic amenity centres, allowing consumers to dispose of their electronic waste responsibly. Both online and physical retailers are also participating in this national

Where can you recycle in Ireland?

WEEE Ireland is a not for profit organisation, committed to delivering cost effective compliance on behalf of their members. WEEE Ireland represents 96% of the Irish battery industry and 74% of the household electrical and electronic industry who have a Producer responsibility under EU Battery Directive 2006/66/EC & WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU to organise and finance the environmental management of their products at their end of life.