IRISH PEOPLE RECYCLED an average of 8 kilos of waste electronics last year, double a European target.

New figures released by Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland showed that Irish people recycled 25,252 tonnes of WEEE  last year.

The figure includes nearly 70,000 fridges, over 512,000 large household appliances. 4.8 million mixed items and 2.6 million lamps.

That figure also  includes 472 tonnes of batteries, 30 per cent of all batteries that went on sale in Ireland last year.

However, the figures also showed that 10 per cent of Irish people are hoarding electronics at home, with each home in Ireland having an average of 110 batteries at any time.

Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland said that Ireland was on track to meet a 2019 target of returning 65 per cent of e-waste, but warned that there was room for improvement.

“We are delighted to be in a position where we are almost doubling the EU target of 4kg of WEEE recycled per person.  Currently we are taking back between 38-40 per cent of e-waste in Ireland and are working towards the 2019 target of helping Ireland achieve 65 per cent take back of electrical waste in the Irish market.

“While we are doing well we also need to be mindful of the WEEE and batteries that get placed in general bins each year which can result in hazardous leakage.

With 10 per cent of people hoarding e-waste at home, and an average of 110 batteries in every house, there is plenty of scope to improve Ireland’s recycling rates.

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