Irish consumers contributing to rise in discarded e-waste

A new report highlights how Irish consumers are contributing to the growing problem of electronic waste, also known as e-waste. In a recent study, almost half of Irish people discarded a fast-tech item after using it for just a short time, with one in three tossing it in the trash and another quarter keeping it at home. Only slightly more than half of those surveyed recycled their discarded gadgets through official channels.

The major study, conducted in July, found that most Irish consumers bought small electronic items like mini fans, festive lights, wireless headphones, and power banks during the past year. These inexpensive, impulse purchases are often treated as disposable because they are easy to replace. However, the repeated behavior of improperly disposing of these gadgets can create a significant waste issue when multiplied across millions of purchases.

Elizabeth O Reilly, director of Environmental Compliance and Circular Economy at WEEE Ireland, explained that the low cost and short lifespan of fast-tech products make them seem disposable. The survey, part of International E-waste Day on October 14 across 12 European countries, revealed that fast-tech purchases in Ireland are higher than the average across the 12 nations, at 89% compared to 78%.

The research also showed that many consumers would be willing to pay more for longer-lasting fast-tech items. When asked about their unused devices, fewer than half brought at least one item to a recycling center, more than one in three discarded them, and over one in four kept them at home. Ms. O Reilly urged people to treat these items as they would any other electronic product, opting to repair, reuse, or recycle them to extend their life and recover valuable materials through the circular economy.

Many of these products also contain lithium batteries that can cause fires if discarded in household bins. WEEE Ireland encourages people to bring unwanted fast tech to their nearest recycling point.