One in eight of us dumps electrical items in bin

One in eight people in Ireland continues to dump small electrical items in household bins, research shows.

The rate for the improper disposal of the products, which has serious environmental and public health risks, almost doubles among younger groups.

One in four 18- to 24-year-olds and one in five aged 35-44 get rid of common household electrical items – such as smart watches, earbuds and bluetooth speakers – in general waste bins.

Laptops, mobile phones, gaming devices, power tools and e-cigarettes are also being tossed in alongside other waste, meaning they can never be reused or recycled, the data for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland reveals.

Products powered by lithium batteries heighten these dangers, increasing fire risks for waste collection firms. In the past five years, WEEE Ireland reported a 100% increase in lithium batterypowered small electricals coming back for recycling.

WEEE Ireland chief Leo Donovan said: ‘A significant number still dispose of their waste electricals improperly, particularly smaller devices. Recycling these items is free and straightforward.’

The figures are echoed in global statistics, with the recent Global E-Waste Monitor revealing less than a quarter (22.3%) of e-waste was properly recycled in 2022, and only 12% of small devices.

Mr Donovan said there is an urgent need to meet forthcoming EU targets and secure sustainable sources of raw materials. ‘The demand for critical raw materials contained in electrical devices is expected to skyrocket,’ he said.