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The estimations come from WEEE Ireland, the electrical and battery recycling scheme who say that 500,000 televisions were bought by Irish consumers in 2011 and the amount of television waste is set to rise.
WEEE Ireland which predicts almost 400,000 waste televisions will be recycled in 2012, has joined forces with Ireland’s free digital television service SAORVIEW to ensure that the public knows they have both the option to reuse and recycle.
To prevent unnecessary waste, consumers can keep their existing television and upgrade to digital with a set-top-box prior to the switchover in October. Alternatively, they can recycle their old TV for free at local civic amenity sites and authorised public collection events across the country.
Under the WEEE regulations, suppliers and retailers are obliged to take back old televisions for recycling on a like-for-like basis when customers purchase a new appliance.
In 2011 WEEE Ireland collected 25, 991 tonnes, which translates into 7.88kg per head of electronic waste, almost double the 4kg target as set out by the EU.
Conor McGlone
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