Recycling

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Recycling

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Jess Casey and Anne Marie with some of bags Anne Marie is taking away. Pictures: Eamon Ward</p>

people

I tried a professional decluttering service — a month later, is my kitchen still tidy?

A professional decluttering service was called for when Jess Casey decided it was finally time to clear some of the mess that has built up in her home

<p>Some of the fast tech and low-quality, quickly discarded electronics found in municipal waste streams being sorted at Clean Ireland’s depot in Shannon, County Clare. Picture: Paul Corey</p>

outdoors

Wasteful and dangerous to dump batteries and electronics

<p>Dr Michelle McKeown: "Roughly 40% of Irish households now buy pumpkins every October, and most buy more than one, according to Global Action Plan Ireland (an environmental NGO). Yet 60% of those pumpkins never get eaten."</p>

outdoors

Ireland’s frightening Halloween habit is a curse that can be broken by sustainable choices

A large number of different human footprints in the sand, background

outdoors

Rethinking carbon footprints

Upcycling: How to get wise, get sustainable and get sorted at home

people

Upcycling: How to get wise, get sustainable and get sorted at home

Cleaning up after the crowds

outdoors

The sound of sustainability: Why many concerts and festivals aren't as 'green' as they claim

Lot of plastic bottles with cosmetics in female hands against background of shelves in store.

Life Hack: How to recycle your beauty empties and earn free replacements at the same time

Look good while saving the environment with these schemes

Mon, 12 May, 2025

Obsolete and out of date technology

Donal Hickey: A mountain of unused smartphones but 80% are recyclable

Many of the materials in a phone are mined from the earth, a practice which can be very destructive, so it makes environmental sense to reclaim these metals for re-use rather than mining new ones

Mon, 14 Apr, 2025

Obsolete and out of date technology

Donal Hickey: Got a junk drawer like this? Time to get repairing or recycling...

We all pay the price for broken and obsolete electronics

Thu, 06 Mar, 2025

Large orange metal skip container in front house, full of rubbish from household reconstruction

Colm O'Regan: Timber from the neighbour's skip? Or the crooked timber of humanity?

You can’t underestimate the power of free stuff, especially free fuel, and especially free fuel that would have been thrown out

Sat, 30 Nov, 2024

Donal Hickey: Beach safety in peak holiday season... anyone can drown but no one should

Donal Hickey: Beach safety in peak holiday season... anyone can drown but no one should

Today is World Drowning Prevention Day. Water Safety Ireland's summer online class only lasts seven minutes but could save lives — link below

Thu, 25 Jul, 2024

Despair

Letters to the Editor: Government must explain delays in reforming mental health laws

One reader highlights delays in promised legislation, while others address issues including animal welfare, bin charges, and Ireland's energy policy

Thu, 04 Jul, 2024

Man in prison hands of behind hold Steel cage jail bars. offender criminal locked in jail.

Letters to the Editor: Decriminalise drugs for the greater good

A reader proposes that the benefits of decriminalising drugs include enhancing public health and reducing the costs associated with treating drug use as a crime

Tue, 02 Jul, 2024

Re-turn deposit return scheme helps reduce litter, according to IBAL and An Taisce

Re-turn deposit return scheme helps reduce litter, according to IBAL and An Taisce

Killarney and Mallow among areas cleaner than European norms as An Taice and IBAL data shows positive effect of plastic bottle deposit scheme

Mon, 24 Jun, 2024

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment report

Ireland breaks new record for recycling electrical and electronic waste

WEEE report says Irish people recycled a record-breaking 41,730 tonnes of electronic and electrical waste in 2023 — the equivalent of 200 40-foot containers more than the previous year

Mon, 17 Jun, 2024

Donal Hickey: Circular Economy Fund open for applications now

Donal Hickey: Circular Economy Fund open for applications now

Schools, community groups, sports clubs, festivals and events can all apply for this funding — link below

Thu, 18 Apr, 2024

Letters to the Editor: Seanad Éireann is for independent voices

Letters to the Editor: Seanad Éireann is for independent voices

One writer is urging readers to contact the 218 TDs and senators who will be voting in the Seanad by-election and tell them who we wish for them to vote for

Tue, 12 Mar, 2024

Drop vapes and other e-waste in for free recycling

Drop vapes and other e-waste in for free recycling

Used vapes can also be returned to the shops in which they were purchased and anything with a plug, battery, or cable, is free to recycle in local authority sites, or participating electrical retailers

Thu, 07 Mar, 2024

Deposit Return Scheme: Some customers charged for products that were not eligible for refund

Deposit Return Scheme: Some customers charged for products that were not eligible for refund

Re-Turn CEO Ciarán Foley said that despite some teething problems, Irish customers have returned around 2.9m units since February 1

Mon, 04 Mar, 2024

Deposit return scheme set to 'boost recycling rates and reduce litter'

Deposit return scheme set to 'boost recycling rates and reduce litter'

Customers who purchase a can or bottle with the Re-Turn logo will be able to claim back 15-25 cents per purchase, depending on size

Sat, 03 Feb, 2024

TOPSHOT-UKRAINE-RUSSIA-CONFLICT-WAR

Irish Examiner view: EU solidarity with Ukraine goes to the heart of the European project

The European Council's decision to give Ukraine an additional €50bn support package is a highly welcome show of support

Fri, 02 Feb, 2024

Letters to the Editor: We should at least consider the notion of married clergy

Letters to the Editor: We should at least consider the notion of married clergy

One reader responds to the Bishop of Kerry's pastoral letter, while others consider issues including wind energy, security for TDs, St Brigid's relics, and Bambie Thug's Eurovision win

Wed, 31 Jan, 2024

Letters to the Editor: Mother and baby homes residents have still received no redress

Letters to the Editor: Mother and baby homes residents have still received no redress

One reader responds to Alison O'Reilly's article about mother and baby homes, while others consider issues including free speech, water quality, and the new recycling scheme

Mon, 29 Jan, 2024

Reverse vending machines installed in Ballincollig ahead of new recycling scheme

Reverse vending machines installed in Ballincollig ahead of new recycling scheme

From February 1, the likes of cans and bottles marked with a 'Re-turn' logo will be eligible for the recycling scheme

Sat, 13 Jan, 2024

Alcohol abuse, bitter refreshing alcoholic beverage and dry stout concept theme with frothy glass pints of dark beer on wood tab

Letters to the Editor: Pensioner enjoying a beer should not have to pay deposit return levy

One reader says a modest can of draught stout will now cost some people more, and other readers consider issues including the Middle East conflict, policing, and Cork's Christmas lights

Mon, 11 Dec, 2023

2050 net-zero targets

Ireland on track to miss EU recycling targets — EPA report

The targets Ireland must meet by 2025 include a recycling rate of 50%, reaching a rate of municipal waste recycling of 55%, and recycling of packaging waste much reach 60%

Tue, 28 Nov, 2023

ieExplains: Are we still putting our household waste in the wrong bin?

ieExplains: Are we still putting our household waste in the wrong bin?

The Environmental Protection Authority has called on local authorities to do more to ensure householders segregate waste properly

Tue, 14 Nov, 2023

Britvic to expand Limerick plant to meet demand for Ballygowan

Britvic to expand Limerick plant to meet demand for Ballygowan

Ballygowan is hiring 28 more staff at Newcastle West due to the double-digit volume growth in sales of the mineral water

Mon, 18 Sep, 2023

10 rainy day art and science activities for kids to try

10 rainy day art and science activities for kids to try

Go back to your childhood with art from Mary’s Make & Do. Plus Mark The Science Guy shares his top experiments to try at home.

Fri, 14 Jul, 2023

Television viewing apps stock

Amazon claims EU Vat rules are preventing items from being donated to charity

figures from France suggest 2.3% of all furniture on the French market is not sold, of which 46% is destroyed or recycled

Fri, 07 Jul, 2023

Zeus acquires Italian paper company with annual revenues of €65m

Zeus acquires Italian paper company with annual revenues of €65m

Deal follows Zeus' acquisition of Northern Ireland business, James Hamilton Group earlier this month.

Mon, 26 Jun, 2023

130-year-old glass bottle found by pupils on Cork beach clean-up

130-year-old glass bottle found by pupils on Cork beach clean-up

Antique bottle, dated between 1880 and 1900, is now being used as an environmental teaching tool to show children that when we throw something away, it doesn't mean it goes away

Mon, 19 Jun, 2023

Fire lit in an embellished white fireplace in a fancy home

Irish Examiner view: Heat is on to reduce consumption

We can give at least one hearty cheer for the news that gas usage is plummeting across Europe and the double boost that gives to consumers and democratic governments everywhere.

Sat, 20 May, 2023

Overflowing bottle banks

Less than an eighth of materials used in Europe made from recycled waste

Analysis shows EU not on track to double rate by 2030, with construction materials in particular not being used again in the 'circular economy'

Thu, 18 May, 2023

Disposable vapes are flooding the environment with plastic waste and creating an eyesore

Disposable vapes are flooding the environment with plastic waste and creating an eyesore

Chris Moody, who regularly cleans sections of the River Bride in Cork, said in one incident he found 50 single-use vape products that were discarded into the river

Mon, 27 Mar, 2023

NETHERLANDS-FEATURE

Ireland has poor record in recycling waste materials for 'circular economy'

Almost 12% of material resources used in the EU comes from recycled waste materials, while Ireland uses just 2%

Thu, 26 Jan, 2023

Call to ban materials from landfill

Rising levels of waste are unsustainable, warns EPA

Ireland has a steep mountain to climb to meet EU recycling targets by 2025

Wed, 07 Dec, 2022

EU aims to cut waste from coffee pods to bottles in new recyclable mandates

EU aims to cut waste from coffee pods to bottles in new recyclable mandates

The measures by the Commission seek to decrease packaging waste 5% from 2018 levels by the end of this decade and 15% by the end of next

Thu, 01 Dec, 2022

Q&A: How will the new Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles and cans work?

Q&A: How will the new Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles and cans work?

A new Deposit Return Scheme is being introduced to encourage more recycling of plastic bottles and cans

Mon, 28 Nov, 2022

Deposit return scheme

New scheme will pay households to return plastic bottles and cans

From February 2024, when you buy a drink in a plastic bottle or can that features the Re-turn logo, you will pay a small deposit on top of the price of the drink

Mon, 28 Nov, 2022

Nigeria Trashion Show

Nigerian teens recycle rubbish into fashion and highlight risks of pollution

Teenage climate activists in Nigeria’s largest city are recycling rubbish into fashion outfits for a show to raise awareness of environmental issues.

Sun, 20 Nov, 2022

Councillors want to reopen €50m Bottlehill to recycle construction waste

Councillors want to reopen €50m Bottlehill to recycle construction waste

The repurposing of construction waste could save the council a fortune in maintenance costs

Tue, 25 Oct, 2022

Stacked cubes of plastic

Ireland among the worst in the EU for recycling plastic

Meanwhile, the volume of plastic packaging waste generated per inhabitant in the EU has increased

Fri, 21 Oct, 2022

Plastic pollution disposable gloves and sea turtle

Ireland needs to raise its game on recycling plastic

We are meeting our recycling targets for glass, paper, cardboard, and metals, but not for plastic — and that’s a concern

Fri, 23 Sep, 2022

Upcoming Irish designers harness everyday junk in bid to win a place at the world final

Upcoming Irish designers harness everyday junk in bid to win a place at the world final

From paperbag waists to actual paper bags, and old alarm cables and plastic bottles — they're all on the Junk Kouture lookbook

Tue, 12 Apr, 2022

A time when all resources were precious

A time when all resources were precious

A two-day vintage advertising and printed ephemera sale will stir memories from a time when less was thrown away and before plastic became ubiquitous

Sat, 09 Apr, 2022

Face masks and antigen tests contaminating recycling plants

Face masks and antigen tests contaminating recycling plants

Huge increase in domestic waste as more people staying at home but lots of contaminated material should be cleaned first of put into general refuse bins

Sun, 20 Feb, 2022

Thursday TV Tips: Junk Kouture winner announcement this evening

Thursday TV Tips: Junk Kouture winner announcement this evening

Plus new Sex and the City series starts; and a serial killer investigator hired in a bid to reveal Banksy's identity

Thu, 09 Dec, 2021

Definitely more flash than trash as Cork schools make it to the Junk Kouture final

Definitely more flash than trash as Cork schools make it to the Junk Kouture final

You could visit many a mart, point-to-point, or ploughing championship and not see blue rope, fencing wire, old dockets and baling tape looking quite like this

Fri, 03 Dec, 2021

Back view of a young girl, hanging a christmas wreath on the door of her home.

Life Hack: Three Christmas decorating and wrapping hacks to start the season with ease

It’s the most wonderful time of the year after all, so why stress about the small stuff?

Wed, 01 Dec, 2021