WEEE Ireland Celebrates International E-Waste Day 2019 & Welcomes Schemes 1,000th Member JYSK Ireland
October 23, 2019
Call on all households to increase e-waste recycling efforts & WEEE Ireland Confirms its 1,000 Member supporting the national WEEE & Battery recycling system
On Monday 14th October 2019 households throughout the country were encouraged to supercharge their electrical and electronic waste recycling efforts to mark International E-Waste Day 2019.
E-Waste Day 2019 comes as an ever-increasing amount of e-waste is being produced worldwide. It is estimated that 50 million tonnes of e-waste will be generated across the planet in 2019. Half of this is personal devices such as computers, screens, smartphones, tablets and TVs, with the remainder being larger household appliances and heating and cooling equipment.
Speaking at an industry event at the launch of International E-Waste Day, Leo Donovan, Chief Executive of WEEE Ireland said: “With the current awareness of global Climate Action issues Ireland is leading the charge in improving how we manage and recycle e-waste and it is important to emphasis we have solutions to the e-waste challenge. WEEE Ireland has consistently met or surpassed its target objectives year on year, supporting local Irish recycling facilities to recover the important materials in WEEE for use in manufacturing.
“The good news is in Ireland with over 600 free recycling points nationwide at local authority recycling centres and electrical retailers, recycling your e-waste has never been easier. Whether it is an old washing machine, broken kettle or faulty hair dryer that you’ve been meaning to clear out, International E-Waste Recycling Day is the day to do it!” notes Donovan
Also, marking International E-Waste Day, Karmenu Vella, EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries explained: “We are entering the next stage in Europe’s commitment to foster a circular economy. This will be part of the new Green Deal for Europe announced by the incoming Commission President Ursula van der Leyen.”
WEEE Ireland was also delighted in 2019 to welcome the Schemes 1,000th member JYSK Ireland, the largest Danish retail chain, selling household goods and operating in Ireland and internationally. In total, JYSK has over 2,700 stores and 23,000 employees in 51 countries.
Since its establishment in 2005, WEEE Ireland now represents 74% of the national household electrical and electronic industry and 96% of the Irish battery industry, organising free takeback and recycling to the public on behalf of its Members from recycling centres, retail points and local collection days around the country.
Jenny Johnston, Sales & Marketing Manager, JYSK Ireland said: ““We are proud to become the 1000th certified member of WEEE Ireland. Since entering the Irish market in April of this year, we have strived to act in an environmentally responsible manner as we roll out our network of stores across the country. Our membership of WEEE Ireland forms part of our wider, global commitment to sustainability. Throughout 2019, we have been working intensively with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to ensure that our sustainability efforts make the biggest impact possible through our value chain.”
Ireland is a European leader in e-waste recycling and WEEE Ireland is driving this success with more than 65% of all EEE products placed on the market by their Members presented for recycling last year.
CEO, Leo Donovan also noted. “The environmental and economic benefits of quality management of WEEE cannot be overstated. While WEEE Ireland is delivering on our Members 65% collection and recycling commitment in this country, only 20% of e-waste is recycled globally each year, which means that 40 million tonnes of e-waste per annum is either placed in landfill, burned or illegally traded and treated in a sub-standard way and this is despite 66% of the world’s population being covered by e-waste legislation. We thank every household, school and workplace who have helped with our environmental efforts to date and the Irish Producers who have joined with the Scheme as part of their national and global sustainability activity.”
For an interactive map to find your nearest participating retailer or local authority recycling centre – click here.