Trash EEE-lk’- born from recycled kitchen appliances, iPads and cables – highlights Ireland’s hidden electrical waste whilst reconnecting the nation with its ancient past
Designed by renowned Irish artist Ned Leddy and built from over 1,000 electrical items and components, the towering, four metre high, five metre long ‘Trash EEElk, boasting 3.5 metre antlers, exposes hidden electrical waste in our homes. The installation urges everyone to recycle anything with a plug, cable or battery – and reminds the public to never bin electrical items.
Trash EEE-lk appears on St Patrick’s Day
Trash EEE-lk is comprised of 80 circuit boards, 24 iPads, 28 plugs, 60 cables, 10 computers, 12 kettles and even more electrical components!
- Invisible WEEE refers to small, everyday electrical items that often go unnoticed in our homes and are frequently thrown into household bins – despite the fire risks associated with improper disposal.
- New research conducted on behalf of ERP Ireland shows chargers and cables (81%), smoke alarms (78%), hairdryers (76%), and even St Patrick’s light-up hats and accessories (6%) are among the most owned ‘Invisible WEEE’ items, yet many small electrical products still end up in household bins. Chargers and cables (17%), vapes (13%) and earphones (9%) are the items most commonly misdisposed of.
The European Recycling Platform (ERP) has, today unveiled its show-stopping ‘Trash EEE-lk’ (EEE: Electrical and Electronic Equipment) installation ahead of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Dublin. The structure, made purely from e-waste, highlights the urgent need for Irish households to recycle (and not bin!) their invisible electrical items. The aim of the majestic mammal, which is set to dominate St. Patrick’s Park from 14th – 16th March, is to encourage people to dispose of electrical items, most notably, invisible e-waste properly. ‘Trash EEE-lk forms part of ERP’s Sustainability Partnership with the St Patrick’s Festival.
In addition to ‘Trash EEE-lk’, ERP has just released new findings in a survey conducted by Coyne Research. It reveals that 55% of adults have never heard of the term “Invisible WEEE”, despite almost universal ownership of small electrical items that often go unnoticed in Irish homes.
The findings show that chargers and cables are the most hoarded, most binned, and most recycled Invisible WEEE items, simply because almost every household owns several of them. Everyday items such as vapes, earbuds, headphones, power banks, remote controls, power tools and small kitchen gadgets also frequently end up in household bins – a serious concern as battery-related fires at waste treatment plants are on the rise. Vapes (13%) and audio accessories (9%) are among the items most commonly misdisposed of, while smart home devices (33%), electric blankets (33%) and even St Patrick’s light up hats and accessories (6%) add to ever-growing stockpiles of invisible e-waste accumulating in our homes.
ERP Ireland’s ‘Trash EEE-lk’ brings an ancient giant back to life to symbolise Ireland’s growing invisible electrical waste problem, encouraging the public to stop in their tracks and recycle responsibly, whilst highlighting the importance of correct disposal.
Designed by renowned Irish artist Ned Leddy, this striking large-scale installation is created from over 1,000 electrical items and components. Towering over the park, it measures five metres long, four metres high and boasts 3.5 metre antlers. As a form of “artivism”, it does more than captivate – it aims to influence recycling culture and spark real change. Inspired by the prehistoric Irish Elk, the largest species of deer ever known, ‘Trash EEE-lk’ connects Ireland’s ancient past with a modern reminder to recycle the unseen.
‘Trash EEE-lk’ forms a wider part of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival theme, Roots, which explores identity, belonging and the shared stories that connect generations. The majestic Irish Elk – which roamed Ireland and Europe before, during and after the last Ice Age and became extinct around 7,700 years ago – stood taller than a modern moose, with antlers spanning up to four metres (13 feet). By transforming this ancient giant from no longer used electronics, ‘Trash EEE-lk’ blends Ireland’s deep past and ancient roots with a powerful yet modern message about recycling invisible WEEE.
Speaking about the inspiration behind ‘Trash EEE-lk’, Artist Ned Leddy said:
“I was delighted to take on such an ambitious, creative and meaningful project. The idea of resurrecting an ancient Irish creature using today’s electronic waste immediately resonated with me. I hand-selected every piece of recycled material, choosing components that would add texture, scale and personality to the sculpture. It was fascinating to see discarded electronics transform into something so striking and symbolic. I hope ‘Trash EEE-lk’ inspires people to see waste differently while reconnecting us with our ancient past.”
Commenting on this year’s instalment, Country General Manager of ERP Ireland, James Burgess, added:
“This year’s St. Patrick’s Festival theme, Roots, is about understanding where we come from and how we shape the future. By reimagining the ancient Irish Elk through modern electronic waste, we want to spark meaningful conversations about sustainability and encourage people to think differently about the electrical items in their homes. ‘Trash EEE-lk’ truly brings Ireland’s lost Elk – and invisible WEEE – back into view.
Electrical waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally, yet many people don’t realise that small items like cables, vapes or even light-up novelty St Patrick’s hats should be recycled. Through this installation, we’re showing that recycling is a simple action – one that protects our planet, preserves resources, and keeps electrical items out of our household bins.”
Richard Tierney, CEO of St Patrick’s Festival, commented:
“Sustainability is one of our core organisational values, and it’s an area where we are committed to leading by example. We have partnered with the European Recycling Platform for several years, and together we aim to inspire our communities to embrace responsible recycling practices and help pave the way for a greener future.
‘Trash EEE-lk’ is a striking symbol with a simple message: small actions can change Ireland’s waste story.”
About ERP
European Recycling Platform (ERP) was founded in 2002 in response to the introduction of the European Union’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. ERP’s mission is to ensure high-quality and cost-effective implementation of the WEEE, batteries and packaging directives, for the benefit of its customers and the environment.
In June 2014, ERP joined Landbell Group, a global platform for extended producer responsibility. ERP and Landbell Group have collected almost 8.5 million tonnes of packaging, 5 million tonnes of e-waste, and over 122,000 tonnes of portable batteries.
ERP operates 43 producer responsibility organisations in 18 countries including – Austria, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, and the UK. By passing on the advantages of multinational recycling operations to customers, ERP has proved to be a competitive solution for companies in the countries where it operates for WEEE, batteries, packaging and textile compliance, as well as take-back services.
European Recycling Platform Ireland DAC was established in 2005 because of the success and expansion of ERP across Europe, providing WEEE and Waste Battery compliance and a B2B service to members.
For more information on ERP, please visit: www.erp-recycling.ie
About St. Patrick’s Festival
St. Patrick’s Festival is Ireland’s official celebration of our national holiday, St. Patrick’s Day. Its origins lie in honouring Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick. Initially, it was a solemn commemorative feast day dedicated to paying tribute to the saint, but over the years, St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a vibrant celebration encompassing the richness of Irish culture. Today, it is a joyful occasion marked by parades, performances, and diverse expressions of Irish heritage; a multicultural international event that is committed to displaying contemporary and traditional arts, culture and heritage of the Irish people and the people who call Ireland home.
Established in 1996, St. Patrick’s Festival has grown from a single-day to a four-day event featuring music, performance, spectacle, dance, theatre, literature, visual arts, food, wellness, community activations and much more. It is recognised globally as one of the world’s biggest festivals, with a global reach of over 1 billion people in 2024.
The festival is a key driver for the tourism industry, presenting a world class event that showcases the very best of Irishness and Ireland as a destination, platforming our incredible unique culture, heritage and traditions to a global audience through quality experiences.
St. Patrick’s Festival continues to be a key driver of employment and opportunity for the creative sector, providing over 10,000 days of employment in 2024. The 2025 Festival will continue to provide these opportunities, driving employment through direct investment in these vital industries that uplift Ireland across the world.
The festival team is made up of many of Ireland’s most experienced professional artists, arts workers, creatives and live events workers, in support of a small core team who work throughout the year planning St. Patrick’s Festival and the Parade. Year on year, St. Patrick’s Festival employs thousands of Irish artists, arts workers, arts organisations, live events workers, community workers and volunteers. St. Patrick’s Festival is an independent not-for-profit organisation with charity status, governed by a Board of Directors under the patronage of the President of Ireland.
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