Recycling Plastics From Electronic Waste

The European Commission estimates e-waste to be one of the fastest growing waste streams in the EU, and expects it to grow to more than 12 million tonnes by the end of 2020. Waste electrical and electronic equipment is a complex mixture of materials and components. This type of waste has hazardous content, and if not effectively managed, can be detrimental to the environmental and lead to health problems. We also note, the production of modern electronics requires the use of a variety of scarce and expensive resources.

As we have increased usage it seems plastics are a key element in making many different components of electronic and electrical products, including phones, computers, laptops, tablets, TVs, screens, toys, vacuum cleaners, hairdryers, and larger household appliances. Plastic are a concern as there any may differ types used which makes easy recycling difficult.

Plastic Coated Electronic Cables

There is a lot of time, energy, effort and money invested to improve the collection and recycling of plastics found in electronic waste (e-waste) but research by PloyCE suggest the plastics value chain is still too fragmented, and recycled plastics are still perceived as unattractive to the end-user.

A New Project

PolyCE is a project funded by the European Commission and consists of 20 partner organisations aiming to address the problem plastic waste relate to electronic equipment during the next 4 years. The idea is to greatly reduce the use of virgin plastics and enhancing the use of recycled plastics in new electronics of all types.

A potential roadblock is the classifying of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) plastics as “hazardous waste” This step risks making EU recycling of WEEE plastics impossible.

Plastics Value Chain – Click above to access full size diagram

The POLYCE Newsletter from March 2020 states, most of WEEE plastics are high value tech plastics and technology exists in the EU to produce REACH and RoHS compliant Post-Consumer Recycled plastics and ensure safe plastic recycling. A small proportion of these WEEE plastics is compounded with flame retardant substances. Only a limited number of these Flame Retardants are restricted as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

Opportunity

Recycling plastic of al types is a great opportunity to improve environmental wellbeing. Envirotec magazine says recycling electronic related plastic would reduce pressure on waste systems in Europe where approx 31% of plastic waste still enters landfills while 39% is incinerated. Another benefit comes with very tonne of plastic recycled helps avoid up to 3 tonnes of CO2 emissions created making new plastic.

Consumer of the Products?

A recent consumer survey carried out by the PolyCE project found that half of respondents did not know if they had ever bought a tech product that included recycled plastic. Of the 25% who said yes to the question, 86% noticed no difference in quality, appearance, or performance of the product they purchased.

Plastic Backs on Monitors and TVs

While there is a growing awareness amongst people around the globe regarding the threats posed by everyday plastic waste, very little attention is given to the challenges of the waste plastic found in electronic devices used daily.

Do you know if you have purchased a phone, tablet or any electronic item manufactured with recycled plastic. Maybe next time you can check and request this option!

Moving Forward

At present plastics are needed for manufacturing the many different components of electronic and electrical products, experts in the PolyCE network said products can be designed in ways that make material recovery of plastic components easier. This will take some time to achieve so during that time please ensure your old electronic items are recycled using a permitted recycler. The current system might not be perfect, but it will develop and change!

For more information on this electronic plastic recycling project click here or visit the BBC website.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT, is an award-winning social enterprise offering electrical, electronic and metal recycling services through drop off and collection. Services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland and South Dublin County Council.

Recycle IT are supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development, Pobal and Dormant Accounts and authorised by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across in Leinster.

For more information on Recycle IT please call 01 4578321, email info@recycleit.ie or visit our website www.recycleit.ie

School Recycling Collections….are back

Free Collection Service

Schools, colleges, and training organizations located in Dublin and surronding areas now have the opportunity to recycle old and once valued electrical, electronic and pure metal equipment. If you need to declutter and create space recycling safely can help.

The service is offered free and is dedicated to reducing large amounts of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) which accumulates in classrooms, canteens, stores, and labs over time.

Unused Electronic Equipment – Recycle IT

Recycle IT, is a community based social enterprise, offering a simple and efficient route to recycle disused electrical and electronic items. After collection, items are broken down and recovered materials are processed for use in the manufacture of a new product. Your recycling helps sustain our organization and create employment and training opportunities.

The free collection service helps safely divert e-waste from landfill and makes use of old items that may have been thrown away. The types of items usually collected include computers, kitchen equipment, phone systems, mobile phones, laptops, tablets, monitors, projectors, printers, battery-operated toys, televisions, and radios. Please click here for a full list 

School Printers – Recycle IT

Schools, Community and Fundraising 

Our school’s collection service is organised as part of our free community collection service. We also support WEEE Ireland with collections of batteries from schools around Dublin which in turn supports the work of LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.

During the last 18 months, we worked with hundreds of schools, colleges, and training organizations all over Dublin and saw an overall increase in electrical equipment collected for recycling with a similar trend in 2019.

During 2020 after a period away from work our team returned and now worked within the COVID 19 guidelines to operate our recycling service safely.

We encourage students, parents, and teachers to get involved by taking in once loved electrical items from home (WEEE to School Day). We promote these type of initiatives to increase awareness of electrical recycling and encourage the next generation to recycle as a norm. Recycling electrical equipment might also help your school achieve or maintain your valued Green Flag

WEEE Ireland Logo

Register an interest

Schools, colleges and trainers wishing to register or schedule a collection simply need to complete a registration form by clicking here or call our team on 01 4578321 between 9am and 3pm, Monday – Friday. Once you call or email we can help you plan and schedule your e-waste collection.

For more information about Recycle IT please click here.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is an award-winning, not for profit, social enterprise established to create employment and promote environmental awareness through recycling and reuse. We work in partnership with WEEE Ireland and are authorized by your local authority to provide electrical, electronic and pure metal recycling collections across Dublin since 2007. Recycle IT are fully compliant for WEEE collection with permit detail available here.

Recycle IT – Commended for Corporate Social Responsibility

45 Easy Reuse Tips

Some Tips for 2020!

For generations in Ireland and across Europe thrift was one of the main reasons for reuse. Reuse saved money, time, energy and space. Reuse limits the need to source and use new natural resources, such as wood, oil, ore fibres and more!

It is always best to reduce first, then reuse and as a last resort, recycle. Reuse is distinct from recycling as items are diverted from waste for reuse. Reuse can include the product current use or a new use.

In the developing world, it’s still the case and leads to very high levels of reuse.  In Ireland as in other developed countries rising wages and greater consumer purchasing power has increased demand for convenience products.

Sometimes needs drive reuse with socks and other cloth items now reshaped and reuses as face masks to protect against the spread of COVID 19 and with lots of coffee shops, closed people are reusing cups and mugs over and over again. (might catch on!).

Water Bottle Reuse – Recycle IT

 

Convenience products have helped us undervalue reuse in favour of disposal or recycling.  Recycling is positive and has great benefits but uses resources including time, human capital and natural resources (e.g. fuel) to get the items to locations where they can be recycled effectively. Reuse is preferable!

If you can reuse an item yourself, it can help save money, save time, and the environment. Reuse helps reduced CO2 emissions and the mining of new raw materials.  Reuse can be a matter of thinking a little differently and figuring out how old milk cartons, cans, bags, bicycles, tires, packing or wood maybe reuse to match your needs. Reuse will truly find a new life for items around your home or workplace.

We created some reuse tips for reuse month in October. We have now updated the list for Reuse Month 2020 – Have a read and see what you can do!

Bicycle Reuse

45 Tips 

1. Use rechargeable batteries, toys and gadgets to avoid single-use batteries.
2. Redecorating, consider painting the kitchen and furniture for reuse. 
3. Create reusable lunch boxes or storage containers from large plastic ice cream tubs.
4. Replacing an old bike, offer it for reuse to schools, colleges or charities. 
5. After a picnic or BBQ, wash and save plastic knives, forks and spoons then store for your next outdoor event.
6. Reuse large plastic milk container to water garden plants rather than a hose: pierce small holes in the top side of the container and fill with water for slow, steady and simple watering.
7. Harvest seeds from fruit and vegetables and try to grow them!
8. Use paper egg cartons or toilet paper tubes (both are biodegradable) to start growing seeds into plants. They can be dropped right into the soil once strong enough.
9. Turn toilet rolls or paper towel tubes into playthings for children or nesting materials for your small pets.
10. Create egg carton crafts or offer egg cartons for reuse by local egg producers.
11. Store printed pictures and photos in poly pockets to reduce the ageing effects from humidity, damp and light.
12. Use old wine corks to create a floating key ring; your keys won’t sinking while at the pool, beach or lake.
13. Use a 2-litre plastic bottle to create a bird feeder.
14. Used cold bacon fat in a tuna or cat food tin to feed you, feathered friends, just hang from a tree or post in the garden.
15. Put old newspaper under a tablecloth to offer protection against spills.
16. Clean your window on Monday with Sundays newspapers (instead of paper towel)
17. Place an open jar or bowl of dried, used coffee grounds in your refrigerator or freezer to neutralize odours.
18. Keep a jar of dried, used coffee grounds to use with washing up liquid. It acts as a scouring agent for baked-on food
19. Placed used coffee grounds in a ring around garden plants to keep bugs and slugs away.
20. Refresh your eyes fresh with chilled and dampened tea bags taken from the fridge.
21. Cut old bike tire tubes tube into strips to make rubber bands in custom sizes.
22. Cut or shred paper or thin card into eco-friendly packing material for presents or parcels.
23. As kids outgrow colouring pencils, pens and art supplies try donating them to your local school.
24. Empty bottles, sweet boxes and biscuit tins can be used as small screw holders, toolboxes, sewing kit or cake holders.
25. Collect old soap ends into stocking leg and keep by an outdoor tap, ensuring you have hand wash for outside use.
26. Cut up old t-shirts and use them to clean up messy spills around the house and in the garage.
27. Used an old adult t-shirt as painting overalls for your kids – saves washing clothes.
28. Old tights make great rags for cleaning, dusting and shining
29. Old tights can be reused as sleeves for storing posters, wallpaper rolls, wrapping paper or anything else that needs to stay rolled up.
30. Cut the legs of old jeans to make super cool shorts for summer.
31. Use banana peels to shine your shoes. Rub the inside of the peel on shoes, then shine with a soft cloth.
32. Turn bread heals into breadcrumbs once dried out. Just blitz.
33. Use the peels of juiced lemons and limes to make zest and twists, which can be dried or frozen for later use.
34. Use juiced citrus fruit halves sprinkled with salt to clean stainless steel and other metal fixtures.
35. Add a piece of orange peel to brown sugar to ensure it stays soft.
36. Don’t throw away half-used copy books, up-cycle into kid’s drawing books.
37. Unravel woollen jumpers and knit something new for you!
38. Reused material from 3 or 4 broken umbrellas to assemble a retro-style rain poncho.
39. Jars can be cleaned and used to store homemade jams, preserves or even as a desk organizer for pens, paper clips or pencils.
40. Save old toothbrushes to scrub hard to reach places, like grout, sinks or behind water taps.
41. Collect broken china to re-tile outdoor tables, flower pots or paths.
42. Hang old clothes drawers or washing machine drums on the wall to create shelves or used them as storage boxes.
43. Food tins and plastic fruit containers can be reused for the planting and growing flower and herbs. 
44. Reuse water from washing and/or cooking vegetables to water plants internally and externally.
45. Old or unused shaving or makeup bags can be reused as a sturdy pen, pencil and marker bags for children (allows kids to keep drawing stuff all in one place!).

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT, is an award-winning social enterprise offering electrical, electronic and metal recycling services through drop off and collection. Services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland and South Dublin County Council.

Recycle IT are supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development, Pobal and Dormant Accounts and authorised by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across in Leinster.

For more information on Recycle IT please call 01 4578321, email info@recycleit.ie or visit our website www.recycleit.ie

Van with Recycle IT Logo

 

 

Recycling Gas Cookers or Hobs Safely

Gas Cooker, Hob, BBQs

The kitchen cooker or hob is often considered one of the most essential home appliances as many individuals and families across Ireland use either daily. They come in different colours and sizes but gas cookers and stoves have long been the first choice of professional chefs and home cooks alike. Bakers seem to prefer electric ovens!

Household Gas Cooker

If you’re buying a new gas cooker, oven or hob, we can help you safely recycle your old gas appliances  Did you know most gas cookers, hobs and even BBQs have a starter button either powered by mains electricity or battery which means Recycle IT can accept these type of appliances.

Why Recycle?

Unwanted appliances including items used in kitchens are one of Irelands fastest-growing type of waste. As you know many items can be repaired or reused while others simply need to be recycled. All options save natural resources and the environment so please do what best for you.

If you do not recycle your appliance properly they tend to end up in landfill or illegally dumped where hazardous substances can leak out and cause soil and water contamination – harming wildlife, plant life and human health. If you are removing a gas cooker remember to do so safely.

Household Gas Cooker and Oven

Recycle IT can Help?

In accordance with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations, cookers, ovens, hobs and all type of electrical or electronic household items can be recycled by Recycle IT.

Unused or old household gas items including decommissioned boilers, gas-powered water heaters and BBQs will be accepted free. If they don’t have electric components, don’t worry, they are generally manufactured from metal which is accepted by Recycle IT. Household appliances can be drop off at no cost or collected cost-effectively in Dublin and surrounding counties.

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is an award-winning not for profit social enterprise providing a collection and drop off service for all types of waste electrical, electronic and metal items. During the last 18 months Recycle IT offered drop-off and collection services to homes, charities, schools and business organizations of all types. Our recycling teams operate across Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE which includes thousands of dishwashers, computers, cables, monitors, microwaves, screens, and metal items.

Our electrical community collection service is provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT are supported by Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Leinster.

Call us on 01 4578321 or email us at here

Visit our website www.recycleit.ie

Van with Recycle IT with Logo

Waste and Recycling list for Ireland

Waste List – what to recycle. 

Do you, your family, friends and colleagues at work really know the waste items which go in your different bins? Unsure what packaging goes where or can be recycled? Asking yourself what should go into the general waste bin?

The Recycling List Ireland is a national standardised list of items that are accepted as part of the recycling service throughout Ireland. The lists are really helpful! 

You will find the most recently published and nationally agreed household recycling waste list in picture format below as well as a downloadable booklet on Waste Prevention and Recycling Trick and Tips.

Remember if it’s not on the waste list it doesn’t belong in the bin. Please make sure that all items are clean, dry and placed loosely in the bin.

Waste Prevention Tips

Plastics 

Today we are recovering and recycling 35% of its plastic waste, considerably ahead of EU targets, but those targets were about to double. A yearly total of 95,000 tons of plastic are recycled, but this figure will need to increase to match the 190,000 tons which are the new target for Ireland. You can help by recycling the below plastics.

Rigid Plastic – Recycle IT

Tins and Cans 

Steel tins and cans are commonly used for anything from coffee to soup and pet food. They are one of the most recycled materials in Ireland. Recycling a tin or steel cans is easy, just give them a quick wash out and drop them in the bins.

Recycling Tin and Cans

Paper and Cardboard

Used paper and cardboard can be turned into new paper or cardboard, but the quality of the material usually diminishes with each recycling treatment. After five to seven reuses the material has reached its useful end but there is a solution – by adding new paper fibres to each recycling cycle paper is given lots for extra life. Good news for us!

Paper and Cardboard – Recycle IT

Recycled materials such as paper and cardboard, metals and plastic are commodities which can be sold on the global market but the prices and demand for material constantly fluctuate. In order for these materials to reach their maximum value they need to be presented clean and sorted so please do your best when placing them in the bin.

Waste List – Clean, Empty, Loose.

Waste list –  why?

As you may be aware, China has introduced an import ban on 24 categories of solid waste, including a ban on some paper and plastics which are used by retailers as packaging for many household items. This packaging usually ends up in your recycling bin. The ban by China (which is their right) resulted in a problem for waste companies. It has been hard to find new outlets/countries to dispose of this waste. (you have to ask why should others accept our waste). This has resulted in prices increases with fees now introduced for green bin collections.

Please note, electrical, electronic or battery-operated items (including batteries) don’t go in the recycle bin. Old phones, kettles, toasters, electronic toys, batteries and  much more can be recycled with Recycle IT – You with find a full list of items here 

To download the most recent Waste Prevention and Recycling Tricks and Tips booklet click the link

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is an award-winning not for profit social enterprise providing a collection and drop off service for all types of waste electrical, electronic and metal items. During the last 18 months Recycle IT offer drop-off and collection service to 111,000 homes and organizations in Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE which includes thousands of dishwashers, computers, cables, monitors, microwaves, screens, and metal items.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) – Recycle IT

Our electrical community collection service is provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT are supported by Pobal, South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow.

Call us on 01 4578321 or email us at here

Visit our website www.recycleit.ie

Recycle IT – Repak Award Winner 2019 – WEEE Champion