ERP Ireland Shortlisted for 2024 PRCA Awards

The European Recycling Platform (ERP), Ireland’s only pan-European compliance scheme for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Waste Batteries is delighted to announce that is has been shortlisted for the 2024 Awards for Excellence in Public Relations in the category of Best Public Information Campaign. As the prevalence of vaping increased across Ireland, vape littering and the improper disposal of these products was a growing public and environmental concern.  ERP Ireland set out to educate the public and to generate awareness of how to dispose of these products safely through a series of creative, meaningful and comprehensive initiatives.

• ERP Ireland commissioned national research into vape usage and recycling knowledge and developed a targeted media strategy to maximize the impact of the research findings through various announcements across the year.
• ERP Ireland leveraged its status as principal circular festival partner at Body & Soul, Ireland’s sustainable music festival, to again highlight the issue of vape recycling. ERP Ireland commissioned artist, Ned Leddy, to create a sculpture – Trash Mammoth – composed of numerous elements of small domestic appliances (SDA) including headphones, cables, chargers, hoovers, toasters and heaters - to remind festival goers that these items should be recycled and are not ‘Trash’.  The sculpture was installed in the main stage area of the Body and Soul Festival and vape recycling bins were provided to festival goers.
• ERP Ireland created a series of educational videos which focused on the recyclable elements contained in vapes and how the batteries, plastics and other metals could be reclaimed and reused and have a positive impact on our environment. There was a clear call to action message around where these products could be properly disposed of – battery recycling bins, recycling centres and vape vendors. These videos were shared to County Councils, the Environmental Protection Agency, Mywaste.ie and other stakeholders for them to use and promote the message across their channels.
• ERP Ireland employed a digital campaign to target key audiences and encourage behavioural change across various platforms over the year. Assets were also shared with multiple stakeholders to amplify the message.
• ERP illustrated the leadership role they were taking in highlighting this electronic waste disposal issue through a strong call to action video featuring CEO, Martin Tobin which was also promoted across its channels.

Yvonne Holmes, Head of Communications at ERP Ireland, said, “We are delighted that our initiatives have been recognised by the PRCA Awards. Vape waste is an emerging issue as the prevalence of vaping in Ireland is increasing rapidly. Disposing of vapes improperly presents a health and safety risk and a missed opportunity to protect and enhance our environment. The message in our campaign is a hugely positive one, which we hope will drive positive change and recycling action.”

Each year, for over 30 years, the Awards for Excellence in Public Relations, co-hosted by the PRCA (Ireland) and the PRII, celebrate the very best of Irish public relations and communications work over the previous twelve months. This year, 74 entries have been shortlisted, covering over 60 campaigns.

Other nominees in the Best Public Information Campaign are:

• Skin Cancer Prevention: SunSmart – HSE NCCP & Healthy Ireland, HSE
• My Decisions My Rights, Mental Health Commission
• ERP Ireland Tackles Vape Waste – An Emerging Environmental Issue

The Awards Ceremony will take place in Dublin on Friday 21st June 2024.  ERP Ireland would like to wish the very best of luck to all other nominees.

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