Ireland more than doubled its EU electronic recycling target in 2007, new figures have revealed.
WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Ireland, one of Ireland’s two national compliance schemes for electrical recycling, said it collected almost 9kg of WEEE per person in its collection area during 2007, over double the 2008 target of 4kg per person set for Ireland by the EU.
WEEE Ireland collected over 28,000 tonnes of e-waste in 2007, an increase of 12pc on 2006 figures.
Since WEEE Ireland was established in August 2005, more than 50,000 tonnes of electronic waste have been diverted from landfill for recycling.
During 2007 WEEE collected, among other items, 100,000 fridges and freezers, a quarter of a million TVs and computer monitors and two million lamps (including fluorescent tubes and energy-saving CFL bulbs).
Some 77pc of the material collected in 2007 was initially processed for treatment on the island of Ireland, with the remainder going to dedicated WEEE treatment plants in the UK and Europe.
“WEEE Ireland would like to thank consumers for bringing back their old washing machines, cookers, computers, televisions and all other e-waste for recycling in 2007 and helping us achieve the 9kg figure for last year,” said Leo Donovan, CEO, WEEE Ireland.
WEEE Ireland is the largest of two authorised national compliance schemes for electrical recycling. The scheme was founded in 2005 by producers of electrical and electronic appliances to comply with the WEEE Directive. It organises the processing and recycling of household WEEE on behalf of its members from recycling centres, electrical retailers and other collection points covering over 80pc of the geographic area of the Republic of Ireland.
By Niall Byrne
