Research reveals data concerns are deterring people from recycling tech

Concerns about personal data are preventing one in five (21%) adults recycling their unused tech items – while a further 22% keep them as back-ups, new research reveals.

WEEE Ireland figures for the last three years also reveal that for every 10 new tech products sold in Ireland, only four are eventually coming back for recycling when they become obsolete.

It means the take-back rate since 2020 now stands at 40% – well below the national e-waste target of 65%.
An average of six million tech items – including mobiles, laptops, tablets, printers, cables and chargers – were sold in Ireland each year over the last three years.

CEO of compliance scheme WEEE Ireland, Leo Donovan, is now urging consumers to dig out old and broken tech and their accessories for recycling, emphasising the straight-forward nature of backing up and wiping old devices.

“There are millions of devices languishing in Irish homes that could be recycled and put to good use once people can overcome their reservations about wiping them after they are properly backed up,” he said.

“Most ‘phone and laptop manufacturers have user-friendly instructions on their websites for backing up and deleting data, ensuring that valuable information is not lost or exposed. Also, holding onto old technology in case it’s needed later is often futile, as more often than not, these devices end up collecting dust and are never used again.”

The Empathy Research online survey of over 1,000 adults for Ireland’s largest not-for-profit compliance scheme, also found that 12% of people still put small electronic waste items in general household bins.

“If recycled correctly, these old and broken devices, along with their integrated batteries, chargers and cables, provide a significant source of critical and strategic secondary raw materials,” said Mr Donovan.

“These are essential to both Ireland’s and the wider EU’s green and digital ambitions in various industry sectors, including renewable energy, transport, health and technology. Cobalt and lithium are crucial for batteries, while gallium is critical for semi-conductors, but these critical raw materials are in scarce supply. 

“We urge the public to take advantage of the available free recycling facilities nationwide and contribute to the country’s sustainable growth while helping to protect our planet.”

As well as providing free recycling services for large and small household electrical and electronic waste, WEEE Ireland operates a scheme for the take back and management of waste batteries. New EU battery regulations due this summer will see a significant increase in collection targets to drive better recycling and resource recovery.

The current national recycling target for batteries is 45%, which, latest figures show, is being achieved.
Since 2005, over 200 million electrical items have been diverted from landfill by WEEE Ireland through a diverse network of local authority civic amenity sites, electrical retailers and public collection events.

Mr Donovan said it is vital that Ireland is supported in delivering the European Green Deal, which includes the new Circular Economy legislation framework and forthcoming Critical Raw Materials Act, and aims to ensure a sustainable supply of critical raw materials for the EU’s green and digital future.

For a map of free recycling drop off points, visit its website: www.weeeireland.ie.

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