Leitrim Households are urged to bring old devices to free recycling event

Leitrim householders are being urged to bring their batteries, electrical, and electronic waste to a free collection day in February to help the county meet national e-waste recycling targets.

The event, hosted by Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment Ireland (WEEE) with Leitrim County Council, takes place on Saturday, February 14, from 10 am-4 pm at the Avant Money Páirc Sean Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon.

They will collect anything with a plug, battery, or cable that can be recycled for free on the day, including old washing machines, TVs, toasters and kettles, electronic tools and toys, cables, IT equipment, mobile phones, remote controls, batteries, including farm fence batteries, and even watches. 

“In Leitrim, and across Ireland, we are buying more electrical goods than ever – with people purchasing an average 23kg per head in 2024 compared to 16kgs just seven years ago,” said WEEE Ireland CEO Leo Donovan. 

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“Shopping stats show a surge in spend on new electrical devices like mobile phones, computers, small kitchen appliances and white goods.  

“With old items still lying around many households, we want to offer the opportunity to recycle these for free. 

“People in Leitrim have contributed greatly to e-waste recycling every year, with 167 tonnes of electrical waste collected in the county in 2024, and we want to encourage that trend.”

4.8kg of e-waste was recycled per person in Leitrim in 2024 – falling short of the WEEE Ireland collection area average of 9.5kg per person that same year.

WEEE Ireland warns that the nation needs to meet new forthcoming EU targets to recycle at least 25% of our annual consumption of critical raw materials from e-waste. 

“An average of 96% of all e-waste that we collect is recovered for use again in manufacturing through both indigenous operators and specialist processors in Europe,” said Mr. Donovan.

“Most end-of-life products contain metals and minerals in higher concentrations than primary resources.  

“These stocks of resources are the urban mines of the future, so our recycling efforts can have a significant impact on the environment.”  

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In 2024, the equivalent of 206,521 tonnes of CO2 emissions were avoided by recycling e-waste through the WEEE Ireland Scheme as opposed to landfilling. That is the equivalent of the annual carbon consumption of 4,130 hectares of trees.

WEEE Ireland accounts for over two-thirds of all national waste electrical and electronics collection activity on behalf of 1,400 producer members. 

“Together, we are diverting waste from landfill, recovering raw materials for reuse and ensuring hazardous materials are safely and responsibly disposed of.  

“We look forward to working with Leitrim householders to hopefully recycle a record-breaking amount of electronic waste in 2026.”