In virtually every illegal dump site in the country, you’ll most likely find evidence of items that not only cause a significant environmental risk, but which could have been disposed of for free.
Week 7 - Blog
What Can I Recycle For Free?
If it has a plug or a battery, recycle it for free
Fly tipping is a disgusting practice carried out by those who rarely live in the communities in which the dumping takes place, and which is a costly inconvenience which the local authorities and community groups need to face on a common basis.
What makes this clean up even more frustrating is that items like old television sets, washing machines and toasters are completely free to recycle, just bring them to your local civic amenity site where they can be disposed of safely.
This kind of waste is known as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). It includes large domestic appliances like washing machines and dishwashers, cooling appliances like fridges and freezers, televisions, computers, kettles, toasters and much more. Basically, if it has a plug on it, recycle it for free. The items will be stripped down into their various components by the recycling teams, and the precious metals they contain like cadmium and nickel in particular can be reused.
Other items that come under the WEEE banner and which can also be recycled for free include children’s battery operated toys, all kinds of bulbs and batteries, including car and domestic.
Of course this isn’t the limit to what can be recycled for free. Clothing, clean and washed bottles and glass and shoes are also among items that can be recycled at any of the many 42 bring bank facilities available throughout the county. There are important things to consider when you empty out the wardrobe and decide to bring the clothes to the bring bank.
Firstly, no socks, underwear or other items that won’t be reworn. Also no soiled or torn items. Instead, they have to go to landfill. However any clean and reusable clothing like paired shoes, coats, dresses, trousers, suits, etc., are accepted and will be gratefully accepted by those that need them.
Clothes and glass recycling banks are located in public areas. However, it is unacceptable if people leave items here because the banks require emptying. This constitutes an offence under the Litter Pollution Act and you could be liable to a fine of €150. You must bring the items home, or find another bring bank facility nearby. A list of all of these community sites is available on the website, as well as the opening hours for the civic amenity sites that will accept your electrical items.