Save the date! Free electrical waste collection days are coming to Mayo this month

Mayo householders are being advised to save the dates for two free WEEE Ireland events which aim to help the county to do its part in reaching national e-waste recycling targets for 2025.

The public are being urged to bring their batteries, electrical and electronic waste to a set of free collection days this February and March through events, hosted by WEEE Ireland in partnership with Mayo County Council.

The events, hosted by WEEE Ireland in partnership with Mayo County Council, kick off this week on Saturday, February 22 at the Mayo County Council car park, Cong, from 10am-4pm.

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On Tuesday, February 25, a collection will take place from 10am-4pm at The Boat Park, Roman Island, Westport Quay.

And on Thursday, February 27, a collection will take place beside Dey’s Shop, Main Street, Ballavary from 10am-4pm. 

Collections will be ongoing throughout March at locations throughout the county. 

Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled for free on the day, including old washing machines, TVs, toasters and kettles, electronic tools and toys, cables, IT equipment, mobile phones, remote controls, batteries, including farm fence batteries, and even watches. 

WEEE Ireland CEO Leo Donovan said: "People in Mayo have contributed greatly to e-waste recycling every year, with 1,388 tonnes of electrical waste collected in the county in 2023, and we want to encourage that trend.”  

10.07kg of e-waste was recycled per person in Mayo in 2023 – falling just short of the national average of 10.33kg per person that same year.  

WEEE Ireland warns that the nation needs to meet new forthcoming EU targets to recycle at least 25% of our annual consumption of critical raw materials from e-waste. 

Mr. Donovan said: “An average of 80% of all e-waste that we collect is recovered for use again in manufacturing through both indigenous operators and specialist processors in Europe. 

“Most end-of-life products contain metals and minerals in higher concentrations than primary resources.  

“These stocks of resources are the urban mines of the future, so our recycling efforts can have a significant impact on the environment.”  

In 2023, the equivalent of 222,852 tonnes of CO2 emissions were avoided by recycling e-waste through the WEEE Ireland Scheme as opposed to landfilling. That is the equivalent of the annual carbon consumption of 4,457 hectares of trees.  

WEEE Ireland accounts for over two thirds of all national waste electrical and electronics collection activity on behalf of 1,355 producer members. 

These free events are in partnership with Mayo County Council.  

Mr. Donovan concluded: “Recycling e-waste is incredibly beneficial for both the environment and the economy. 

“Together, we are diverting waste from landfill, recovering raw materials for reuse and ensuring hazardous materials are safely and responsibly disposed of.  

“We look forward to working with Mayo householders to hopefully recycle a record-breaking amount of electronic waste in 2025.”