Wexford Leads the Way in E-Waste Recycling 1,703 Tonnes Collected in 2024

Wexford residents are making significant strides in e-waste recycling, with 1,703 tonnes of electrical and electronic waste collected in the county in 2024. This equates to 10.4kg of e-waste per person, surpassing the national average of 9.5kg. WEEE Ireland, the organization behind the initiative, has praised the local community for its contribution to the global push for responsible recycling of e-waste. The latest figures come as part of a broader European report highlighting the critical raw materials—such as copper, lithium, and nickel—contained in discarded electronics. These materials are essential for the production of renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles and defence equipment. Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland, called for continued efforts to ensure that Ireland’s e-waste is recycled effectively, urging consumers to discard old or broken electronics at local collection points. The statistics also reveal that younger generations, particularly those aged 18-24, are recycling a higher proportion of their old devices—6 in 10—indicating a strong environmental conscience among youth. However, despite this progress, WEEE Ireland warns that a large amount of unused tech continues to gather dust in homes across Ireland, posing a missed opportunity to recover valuable materials.