Wicklow Lagging Behind Other Counties In Recycling Rates.

Wicklow householders urged to recycle obsolete devices this Christmas.  

Wicklow householders urged to recycle obsolete devices this Christmas  

Almost half of Ireland’s small electronics are bought in November and December, but Wicklow is lagging in recycling rates, with only three 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, Wicklow’s 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 Wicklow residents to embrace sustainable habits by swapping old for new responsibly.

“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.