Waterford lagging in recycling electrical items amid Christmas shopping rush

Almost half of Ireland’s small electronics are bought in November and December, but Waterford is lagging in recycling rates, with only two in ten devices returning to the circular economy, new data reveals.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland figures show that nationally, over 11 million small electronic items were bought last year, with 4.4 million sold during Black Friday and Christmas alone.

However, Waterford’ recycling trends show that most of these items won’t be recycled when they can no longer be repaired or reused.

The recycling rate is even worse for toys such as gaming consoles and battery-operated action figures, falling to just 10% nationally, leaving millions of devices lying in drawers or discarded irresponsibly.

With 73% of Irish consumers now shopping online, WEEE Ireland is urging Waterford residents to embrace sustainable habits by swapping old for new responsibly.

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“Electronics are a top category in online purchases, particularly during high-sales periods like Black Friday and Christmas when cost-conscious consumers hunt for deals,” said Elizabeth O’Reilly, Head of Environmental Compliance at WEEE Ireland.

“However, recycling rates in Waterford for small devices remain low, particularly for online purchases, despite the availability of free take back services for recycling from the likes of Amazon.

“With the holiday shopping season in full swing, it’s more important than ever for consumers to know their options.
“Whether you shop in-store or online, every retailer is required under Irish legislation to accept obsolete devices for free recycling when selling a similar new one.”

Ms O’Reilly says WEEE Ireland is encouraging people to check their retailers’ take back policies as each offers different ways to return items for recycling.

“Some online retailers offer collection services with their own delivery services and others offer options for free postal or courier return. Then, if you simply swap while you shop, you recycle your defunct device to ensure it doesn’t end up in landfill.

“This small action can make a big impact, helping conserve finite resources while reducing environmental harm, as well as protecting human and animal health.”

WEEE Ireland’s tips for a more sustainable Black Friday and Christmas:

Recycle while you buy: Take advantage of free recycling when purchasing new devices;

Opt for refurbished: Explore nearly new and refurbished device offerings, and related trade-in offers, when looking for replacement items.

Repair first: Extend the life of your gadgets by repairing them before replacing;

Reuse and share: Pass on functioning electronics in good quality to others who may need them;

Recycle responsibly: Use authorised WEEE Ireland collection points for broken devices beyond repair and reuse.

WEEE Ireland offers hundreds of collection points across local authority civic amenity centres, allowing consumers to drop off old electronic devices for free. Participating online and physical retailers are also part of its nationwide effort to combat e-waste.