WEEE Ireland to deliver free recycling boxes to Longford homes this month

To support a nationwide New Year clear-out, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland plans to deliver blue battery recycling boxes to homes in Longford and nationwide throughout this month in a bid to capture the many used batteries and unwanted small electrical items.  

The boxes can be returned for free at participating retailers or local recycling centres.

According to WEE, Longford people recycled the equivalent of 17 batteries per household last year, just above the national average of 16, as new national data today revealed that only half of household batteries sold are making their way back for recycling each year.

As households replace old devices with new gifts received during Christmas, new figures from the e-waste recycling scheme show that almost half of all household battery purchases are made during the Christmas shopping period. 

The organisation is now urging people to use this month to recycle any used batteries and unwanted small electrical items, rather than storing them away or binning them.

Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland, said, “As people make space for new gifts received at Christmas we are asking people in Longford to plan an e-waste and battery clear-out.”  

“As well as providing a handy QR code that connects you to a map of hundreds of local drop off points, our blue battery boxes are a simple but powerful reminder that batteries should never go in household bins. Returning for recycling ensures the safe recovery and reuse of the materials they contain.” 

When you receive your battery box, please fill it with all the old and used batteries left over from the Christmas season, i.e. toys, decorations, and devices. Simply return the box to your local retailer or recycling centre. 

More information on WEEE Ireland’s network of free collection points across local authority civic amenity centres and retailers is available at weeeireland.ie 

Funded by the local democracy reporting scheme

Read More: ALERT: Major warning issued highlighting risks of not dumping vapes properly

Read More: Magnificent sculpture unveiled in Longford's St Mel's Cathedral