Free electrical recycling days in Tipp
Tipperary householders are being urged to bring their batteries, electrical, and electronic waste to a set of free collection days to help the county meet national e-waste recycling targets for 2024.
The events, hosted by WEEE Ireland in partnership with ALDI, kick off on Tuesday, April 2, at ALDI Cashel, Boherlough Street, Cashel, E25 YD58, from 10am-4pm.
On Thursday, April 4, the collection will take place at ALDI Cahir, Abbey Street, Carriggreen, Cahir, E21 DF29, from 10am-4pm.
On Tuesday, April 9, the collection will take place in ALDI Nenagh, Springfort Retail Park, Nenagh, E45 K379
A collection will take place at ALDI Carrick-on-Suir, Waterford Road, Tinvane, Carrick on Suir, E32 ED70 on Tuesday April 16, from 10am-4pm.
On Thursday April 18, a collection will take place at ALDI Clonmel, Western Road, Clonmel, E91 EH39, from 10am-4pm.
And a collection will also take place at ALDI Tipperary Town, Mitchell Street, Tipperary Town, E34 D786 on Thursday, April 25, from 10am-4pm.
Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled for free on the day, including old washing machines, TVs, toasters and kettles, electronic tools and toys, cables, IT equipment, mobile phones, remote controls, batteries, including farm fence batteries, and even watches.
“We are delighted to partner with ALDI for these free public electrical and battery recycling events at ALDI stores across Tipperary. People in Tipperary have contributed greatly to e-waste recycling every year, with 1,488 tonnes of electrical waste collected in the county in 2022, and we want to encourage that trend.
“In Tipperary, and across Ireland, we are buying more electrical goods than ever – with people purchasing an average 25kg per head in 2023 compared to 16kgs just five years ago,” said WEEE Ireland CEO Leo Donovan.
“Shopping stats show a surge in spend on new electrical devices like mobile phones, computers, small kitchen appliances and white goods.
“With many old, broken and unused items still lying around many households we want to offer the opportunity to recycle these for free.”
8.8kg of e-waste was recycled per person in Tipperary last year – falling short of the national average of 10.33kg per person.
WEEE Ireland warns that the nation needs to meet a forthcoming EU target to recycle at least 15% of our annual consumption of critical raw materials from e-waste.
“82% of all material that we collect is recovered for use again in manufacturing through both indigenous operators and specialist processors in Europe,” said Mr Donovan.
“Most end-of-life products contain metals and minerals in higher concentrations than primary resources.
“These stocks of resources are the urban mines of the future, so our recycling efforts can have a significant impact on the environment.”
In 2022, the equivalent of 216,157 tonnes of CO2 emissions were avoided by recycling e-waste through the WEEE Ireland Scheme as opposed to landfilling. That is the equivalent of the annual carbon consumption of 4,323 hectares of trees.
WEEE Ireland accounts for over two thirds of all national waste electrical and electronics collection activity on behalf of 1,300 producer members.
These free events are in partnership with ALDI Ireland.
“Recycling e-waste is incredibly beneficial for both the environment and the economy,” said Liz Fox, National Sustainability Director at ALDI Ireland.
“Together, we are diverting waste from landfill, recovering raw materials for reuse and ensuring hazardous materials are safely and responsibly disposed of.
“At ALDI, we are very proud of our work with WEEE Ireland, collecting more than 706 tonnes of battery waste since 2009, the equivalent to 35.3 million AA batteries.
“Our recent events with WEEE have seen an impressive 9.8 tonnes of electrical goods collected for recycling at our stores in 2023.
“We look forward to working with WEEE Ireland and Tipperary householders to hopefully recycle a record-breaking amount of electronic waste in 2024.”