AS THE Christmas gifting season approaches, people across Limerick have been urged to recycle electronic devices that are no longer wanted.
New data from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) shows that only one in 10 devices locally are returned to the circular economy.
The figures show that nationally last year, over 11million devices were purchased, with 4.4million bought between Black Friday and Christmas alone.
Trends show that very few of these devices will be recycled when they can no longer be repaired or used.
Elizabeth O’Reilly, head of environmental compliance at WEEE Ireland, said that recycling rates in Limerick remain very low.
“Electronics are a top category in online purchases, particularly during high-sales periods like Black Friday and Christmas when cost-conscious consumers hunt for deals.
“However, recycling rates in Limerick for small devices remain low, particularly for online purchases, despite the availability of free take back services for recycling from the likes of Amazon,” Ms O’Reilly said.
WEEE Ireland is urging people buying electronics this holiday season to check their retailers’ take-back policies as stores can differ.
“Some online retailers offer collection services with their own delivery services and others offer options for free postal or courier return. Then, if you simply swap while you shop, you recycle your defunct device to ensure it doesn’t end up in landfill,” she explained.
“This small action can make a big impact, helping conserve finite resources while reducing environmental harm, as well as protecting human and animal health,” Ms O’Reilly added.
