6.9m electrical goods recycled in Ireland last year

CONSUMERS recycled 6.9 million television sets, washing machines and light bulbs last year — the equivalent of five kettles for every person in the country.

Yesterday, recycling firm WEEE Ireland said recycling rates in Ireland for unwanted electrical and electronic goods was among the best in Europe.

Customers can either take unwanted electrical equipment back to retailers when they buy new goods or they can drop off the equipment at one of 79 recycling centres nationwide.

“Consumers who brought back washing machines, cookers, computers, televisions and all other electrical waste last year helped us achieve double the EU target,” said WEEE Ireland boss, Leo Donovan.

The EU has set a target for recycling of four kilogrammes per head of Ireland’s 4.3m population a year.

Last year, the recycling scheme run by WEEE, which covers around 80% of the country, recycled nine kilogrammes of unwanted electrical items per head of population. The company runs one of Ireland’s two recycling schemes and since 2005 has recycled more than 50,000 tonnes of waste which would otherwise be dumped in landfill sites.

Last year’s haul comprised 96,572 fridges and freezers, 283,663 computer monitors and televisions, 632,401 large household appliances like washing machines, 3.81m small items such as hair driers and kettles, and 2.1m fluorescent strip-lighting tubes.

The total weighed 28,000 tonnes — up 12% on 2006 and weighing the same as 200 jumbo jets.

More than three-quarters of the goods were initially treated in Ireland or the North with the remainder exported to plants in Britain or continental Europe.

Environment Minister John Gormley yesterday announced tighter controls on the export of household waste for recycling.

The Government is to set up a registration scheme for waste dealers and brokers, who export 83% of Ireland’s recyclable cardboard, paper and plastic for processing.

“The movement of such large volumes of waste needs to be properly policed and controlled to prevent illegal waste activity,” said Mr Gormley.

Countries like China buy waste from as far away as Ireland to meet growing demand in the Far East for raw materials like paper and plastic.