Why Recycle?
Recycling is an excellent way of saving energy and conserving the environment.
Did you know that:
- 1 recycled tin can would save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours.
- 1 recycled aluminium can would save enough energy to light a 100watt lightbulb for almost 20 hours
- 1 recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes.
- 1 recycled plastic bottle would save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 3 hours.
- 70% less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw materials.
Where can I recycle?
Bring Banks
Recyclable Items
The following items can be recycled at Recycling centres or Bring banks throughout the County.
Glass bottles/Jars
Glass can be recycled either in the form of returnable bottles or by bringing glass bottles and jars to a bottle bank. Glass that is brought to a bottle bank must be sorted according by colour to avoid contamination. The glass is crushed and turned into “cullet”. In the making of new glass, up to 40% of the raw material can be in the form of cullet. This amounts to significant savings in raw materials and energy needed to melt the glass.
Paper/Cardboard
Paper, cardboard, magazines, and other paper products are separated from each other in a Materials Recycling Facility, where they are baled and sent for recycling to a paper mill. There are different recycling markets for the different types of paper products which is why they are separated. They are turned into paper pulp and recycled back into other paper products.
Aluminum/Steel Cans
The aluminium can (drink can) and Steel (food can) is one of the most valuable of the common waste materials. Baled aluminium cans are smelted into 27 tonne ingots, which are then rolled before being made into cans and other products.
Plastic bottles
There are many different types of plastic on the market such as:
- PET – Polyethane Terephthalate: drink bottles
- HDPE – High Density Polyethylene: Shampoo/Detergent Bottles
- LDPE – Low Density Polyethylene: Plastic bags/bubble wrap/cling film
- PE – Polyethylene
Not all of these plastics can be recycled. Plastic bottles, such as PET/HDPE can be shredded and recycled as fibre for the polyester lining for sleeping bags, pillows and quilted jackets. Recycled plastics, such as LDPE can be used in a wide range of areas, such as fencing, garden furniture, car bumpers
Textiles
Any clothes which are in good condition are sent to African countries where they are re-worn. Clothes and textiles that are not suitable for to be worn again are shredded and recycled into carpet underlay felt, machine wiping cloths or fibre filler for furniture.
Batteries
Lead acid batteries (cars, trucks, boats, tractors, etc.) are made of plastic and contain dilute sulphuric acid and lead. During the recycling process, the batteries are crushed, the acid is drained off and neutralized and the plastic and lead is compacted and baled for recycling. Button batteries (cameras, hearing aids, watches, computers and calculators) can be recycled using a thermal process. Domestic rechargeable batteries (mobile and cordless phones, laptops, power tools and cordless appliances) can be also recycled using a thermal process, which reclaims the cadmium, nickel and iron. The reclaimed cadmium is used to make new batteries while the nickel and iron are used to make stainless steel.
White goods
Household appliances like washing machines, cookers, dryers, dishwashers and toasters can be dismantled. The ferrous and non-ferrous metals are separated and the remainder is disposed of. There are also specialist recyclers who process the more complex items such as computers and televisions. These recyclers separate components of the equipment for resale or recycling of valuable materials.
Green Garden Waste
Grass, leaves, hedge clippings are sent to a composting facility where during the natural breakdown of this organic product, excellent quality compost can be produced.
Oil
Waste mineral oil (fuel oil and lubrication oil) can be reprocessed and re-sold as low-grade industrial lubricant or industrial boiler fuel oil to generate heat, electricity or both. Vegetable oils, such as cooking oil, should never be mixed with mineral oil.
- Wood
- Metal
- Electrical/Electronic Items
- Fluorescent tubes
- Light Bulbs
- Paints
- Aerosols
- Polystyrene
- Flat Glass
Recycling symbols
You will see various recycling symbols on products and packaging. The most common is the MOBIUS LOOP – three arrows in a circle. This means that a product is either recyclable or has some recycled content. However, unless there is an outlet to accept this material, it cannot be accepted at a recycling centre.
Another common symbol is the Green Dot. This is a pan-European symbol that appears under licence on the packaging of products you buy. It means that the supplier of that packaging is committed to protecting the environment by funding the recovery and recycling of their packaging waste. You can visit Repak’s website to learn more.
Click on link for information Vehicle Refinishing
Recycling Changes announced as Soft Plastic Waste, that is clean, dry and loose, can now be placed in Irish Household Recycling Bins
Recycling Changes announced as Soft Plastic Waste, that is clean, dry and loose, can now be placed in Irish Household Recycling Bins.
All plastic packaging waste – including soft plastic – can now be placed in Irish household recycling bins as long as it is clean, dry and loose.
Making the announcement, Minister of State with special responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth TD said soft plastic can be placed in the household recycling bin along with “rigid” plastic.
“This is a significant and very positive development in Irish recycling and waste management. Soft plastics have been added to the household recycling list due to advancements in technology at Irish recycling facilities. This is welcome news as we work to reach EU recycling targets. Currently in Ireland we recycle less than a third of all plastic packaging waste. We have committed to increasing our plastic packaging recycling figure to 50% by 2025 and 55% by 2030. Today’s announcement is a significant step towards achieving these targets,” added Minister Smyth.
Today’s development is also part of the effort to fulfil commitments in relation to plastic packaging recycling as outlined in the Government’s Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy.
Pauline McDonogh, Spokesperson for MyWaste – Ireland’s official website for guidance on managing waste, said that the addition of soft plastic to the Irish household recycling bin makes waste segregation much more straight forward for the householder.
“Householders can now place all plastic packaging waste, including soft plastic, into the recycling bin once it is clean, dry and loose.
“Advancements have been made to the technology that segregates the different material types in recycling facilities. The recyclable plastic is sent to specialised, polymer-specific recycling facilities. If it cannot currently be recycled, it will be sent as Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) to replace fossil fuels at cement kilns.”
Adding her support to the announcement, Repak Team Green Ambassador Roz Purcell said, “The Irish citizen can play a key role in helping Ireland increase our plastic packaging waste recycling rate and continue our journey to becoming a more sustainable society. We can make a big difference by simply ensuring that we place the plastic packaging waste that we discard – clean, dry and loose – into our household recycling bin.”
All permitted waste collection companies are now accepting soft plastic packaging waste that is placed clean, dry and loose into the recycling bin.
For a detailed list of the materials that are now accepted in the household recycling bin see mywaste.ie.