ERP Ireland Encourages Public to Embrace Tech Reuse, Repair, and Recycling This World Earth Day

Tuesday, 22^nd April is World Earth Day and the European Recycling Platform (ERP), Ireland’s only pan-European compliance scheme for WEEE and Waste Batteries, is calling on households to stop tech hoarding and consider reuse, repair or recycling their old or broken electrical items.

Whether its cluttering kitchen cupboards or stashed away in the infamous man drawer Irish homes, attics and garden sheds are full of forgotten electrical items. According to new Coyne Research commissioned by ERP, 1 in 3 adults claim they are holding on to unused electrical items because they haven’t got around to recycling them (32%). A further 15% say they are holding onto old electronics because they might repair them in future.

“Irish homes are full of old and forgotten mobile phones, laptops, tablets and gadgets that we haven’t touched in years,” says James Burgess, Country General Manager at ERP. “World Earth Day, just after Easter, is the perfect moment to take stock and do something positive for the planet. We want people to consider how their old tech can have a new lease of life, either by being repaired, or by being recycled so it’s components can be used again.”

Time to Close the Loop

ERP’s research also reveals a shift in how Irish consumers view technology as refurbished tech grows in popularity.

• 44% of consumers have bought second-hand or refurbished electronics before (44%).
• Gen Z are leading the charge, with 3 in 5 (60%) opting for refurbished tech, compared to just 1 in 4 (26%) Baby Boomers.
• Smartphones top the list of most commonly purchased refurbished items (51%), followed by laptops (26%) and tablets (14%).
• Quality, price, and warranty matter most to consumers when purchasing refurbished motivators.
• And tellingly, there's been a +6% increase in people holding onto old electronics with the intention to repair them in the past year but not getting round to it.

This World Earth Day, ERP is reminding the public that repairing and recycling are both central to ensuring a circular economy in Ireland. As part of Ireland’s collective effort to ensure a circular future the Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Act has been introduced last year. Europe relies heavily on imports of CRMs such as lithium, copper, and cobalt which are of high economic importance in the transition to clean energy systems. This regulation will strengthen all stages of the European CRM value chain, diversify the EU’s imports to reduce strategic dependencies, improve the EU’s capacity to monitor and mitigate risks of disruptions to the supply of CRMs.

“We need to move away from a throwaway culture – and that starts at home,” continues Burgess. “We’re asking everyone to take a moment to clear out those forgotten items and consider bringing them for repair where possible or taking them to a local recycling centre if needed. Don’t let them gather dust – let them make a difference.”

Free Recycling

This week, ERP Ireland launches its ERP Free Electrical Drop Off Events schedule for 2025 with events announced for Cavan, Clare, Fingal Dublin, Kerry, Meath, and Monaghan. The programme offers householders an accessible central collection point to bring their unused and broken electrical items and used batteries for recycling. ERP Ireland also partnered with Lidl Ireland to offer a series of free household electrical recycling events at some of their stores.

Find your nearest ERP FREE Electrical recycling Drop Off event at www.erp-recycling.ie