10th July 2007 I read that 83% of Ireland's recycling is sent abroad (Breaking News).

What can be recycled? Glass, paper, cardboard, cans, plastic, batteries, textiles, waste electrical and electronic goods, etc.

How much is actually recycled? Currently, the following are estimates of Europe-wide recycling rates achieved : -

Paper - 34% - can be recycled many times, Although some 'virgin' wood pulp is necessary for high quality product, a huge saving in energy and water is achieved by using recycled paper.

Metals - 30% - can be recycled many times

Glass  - 22% - can be recycled many times, although 'green glass' is the least valuable.

Plastic - only 3.5% of all newly-generated plastic is recycled into new products (plastics can normally only be recycled once). They use oil as their raw material, so we should be trying to use alternative products.

What can we buy that's made from recycled materials?

Plastics drinks bottles can be made into carpet, sleeping bag stuffing and plastic pellets to be made into plastic goods again

Milk bottles might go into building materials, recycling & compost bins, toys, etc.

Glass can be remade into bottles, or ground down to add to plaster.

Paper can be recycled into notepaper, newspapers, magazines, greetings cards, wrapping paper, insulation and cheap printer paper.

Aluminium cans are melted down and made into more cans with no loss of quality, so can be recycled indefinitely.

From Cork County Council's website :-

INTERESTING FACTS & STATISTICS

 

  • The energy saved from recycling a glass bottle will light a 100 watt bulb for 1 hour
  • The energy saved from each recycled aluminium beverage can operates a TV for 3 hours
  • Making aluminium from recycled aluminium uses 90 to 95% less energy than aluminium from bauxite ore
  • Recycling just one plastic bottle saves enough energy to power a 60 watt bulb for 6 hours
  • It takes just 25 two litre beverage bottles to make one adult size fleece jacket
  • Every steel can is 100% recyclable and can be recycled many times into products like bicycles and of course new cans
  • Each Irish household produces approximately 1 tonne of rubbish annually, amounting to approximately 1.6 million tonnes each year
  • Every year, the average dustbin contains enough unrealised energy for 500 baths, 3500 showers or 5000 hours of television
  • One bottle bank can hold up to 3000 bottles before it needs to be emptied
  • One tonne of plastic bottles comprises approximately 20000 bottles

Waste electronic goods should be taken to your local recycling centre, and disposed of free of charge (known as WEEE). This is to prevent large items being dumped in our beautiful landscape, creating an eyesore but also public health issue because of the toxic materials involved in its manufacture. There is a small charge on purchase (EMC) which covers the cost of the waste disposal and recycling.

If you purchase a new appliance, the store must take back your old one, again free of charge.

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