Almost half of Ireland’s small electronics are bought in November and December – but only one in three are coming back for recycling, new data shows.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland figures reveal more than 11 million small electronic items from personal grooming to tech were bought here last year, 4.4 million of them across Black Friday and Christmas.
However, only 30% of these goods return to the circular economy through recycling 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%, leaving millions of devices lying in drawers or discarded irresponsibly.
With 73% of Irish consumers now shopping online, WEEE Ireland is urging shoppers to embrace sustainable habits by swapping old for new responsibly.
“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, national recycling rates 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.”
Elizabeth O’Reilly of WEEE Ireland has urged shoppers to check take-back policies to return their items for recycling (Conor McCabe/PA)
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.”
Alongside participating retailers, WEEE Ireland says it offers hundreds of collection points across local authority civic amenity centres, allowing consumers to drop off old electronic devices for free.