Eco targets could ignore our shrinking waste lines

Fridges

- BY DAVID YOUNG

WEEE Ireland has expressed concern that EU recycling targets ignore the impact of a growing circular economy in this country.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Ireland, which is marking 20 years in operation this year, has highlighted that more than 250million old and broken electrical items have been prevented from entering landfill since 2005.

WEEE said it has facilitated the collection and recycling of more than 609,000 tonnes of electrical waste in the last 20 years.

That haul included 7.6m large household appliances, 1.8m fridges, 5.1m televisions and monitors, 47.5m lamps and the equivalent of 725m used AA batteries.