Offaly householders urged to recycle waste batteries

Offaly householders are being encouraged to recycle their waste batteries in a new year clear-out.

People from the county recycled the equivalent of 20 batteries per household last year.

While this figure is above the national average of 16, data has revealed that only half of household batteries sold are making their way back for recycling each year.

To support a nationwide New Year clear-out, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland plans to deliver one million blue battery recycling boxes to homes nationwide during January in a bid to capture a valuable hoard of waste batteries. The boxes can be returned for free at participating retailers or local recycling centres.

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.

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

“As people make space for new gifts received at Christmas we are asking people in Offaly 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," said Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland.

When it comes to small electronic items, 2024 figures from WEEE Ireland show a similar trend, with 40 percent of Ireland’s annual small electronic gift and toy purchases happening in the festive period.

However, just 30 percent of these are returned to the circular economy for recycling.

Recycling rates for electronic toys such as gaming consoles, e-scooters and battery-operated action figures are even lower, dropping to just 10 perent, leaving millions of unused, broken or obsolete toys lying around in homes or discarded incorrectly in the household bin.

Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment & Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Alan Dillon TD, said

“Every home in Ireland can make a difference. Batteries don’t belong in the bin – they belong in recycling. When we dispose of them incorrectly, we risk fires and environmental pollution," the TD said.

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