Irish Electronics' Recycling Doubles Europe Expectations

Ireland is recycling twice the amount of electronic goods than a target set by the EU.

New figures reveal, on average, each Irish person recycles up to 9kg of used electronics goods last year, more than double the 4kg target set when retailers were first required to take back old items in 2005.

Since the laws were introduced three years ago, some 21 million electronic goods have now been recycled, according to the figures published by WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Ireland.

The figure includes 2.1 million large household appliances such as fridges, washing machines and cookers; 12 million small appliances such as kettles, toasters, radios etc; 750,000 televisions and computer monitors and 6.2 million lamps.

As a result, about 100,000 tonnes of electronic waste have been diverted from landfill since August 2005, WEEE Ireland said.

More than 70% of all waste electronic equipment collected has been initially processed in Ireland with the remainder going to dedicated treatment plants in Britain and Europe.

Any household item - requiring a plug or battery - that has come to the end of its life, is considered by WEEE.

These items can be deposited at any of 80 civic amenity sites for recycling or handed in at electrical shops when equivalent items are being purchased.

(DW)