How do WEEE Recycle
- At collection WEEE is segregated into ‘families’ which are then sent for specific depollution and treatment processes in Ireland to divert hazardous material from landfill and from harming the environment and human health.
- WEEE then undergoes multi stage recycling processes to break them into fractions of material e.g. glass, metals, plastics which can be used again in manufacturing.
- Under the WEEE and Battery Directives there are targets for recovery rates and recycling efficiencies of these waste streams. WEEE Ireland reports annually on the achievement of these targets.
|Fridges & Freezers||Fluorinated hydrocarbons e.g. CFC’s, HFC’ Hydrocarbons e.g. isobutane|
|TV’s and Monitors (Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) & Flat screens)||Lead, fluorescent powder (contains heavy metals) Mercury (found in flat screens) Brominated Flame Retardant Plastics|
|Large Household Appliances||Capacitors potentially contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s)|
|Mixed WEEE(all other types of WEEE)||Batteries, Toner cartridges|
NOTE: These and other hazards must be removed from WEEE in accordance with Annex VII of the WEEE Directive.
Keeping it in the loop
- Reuse and Recycling are an important part of the waste hierarchy, recovering products and their fractions for use again: saving on natural raw materials and improving resource efficiency.
- This will help Ireland as it it strives toward a greener circular economy.
- Therefore WEEE and waste batteries must be managed within the authorised system such as the WEEE Ireland Compliance scheme.