Over 250 million old and broken electrical items have been diverted from landfill mainly due to the recycling efforts of Irish households over the past 20 years, according to data recently released to mark two decades of the largest e-waste compliance scheme in this country.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland has facilitated the collection and recycling of more than 609,000 tonnes – almost 122,000 forty-foot trucks full – of electrical waste. Its scheme has invested around €25 million annually into building and supporting Ireland’s indigenous recycling infrastructure.

However, WEEE Ireland warns that recycling targets set by Europe more than a decade ago mean Ireland’s efforts are not being recognised as they fail to account for the improved lifespan of technology, as well as efforts to repair and reuse products.

It is urging EU policymakers to modernise the WEEE Directive, due for major review next year, to reflect the realities of today’s electronics market. EU member states are required to collect a minimum of 65% of the average weight of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) placed on the market over the three preceding years.

“While WEEE Ireland’s takeback rates match the European average, our ability to meet this target is moving further out of reach every year—not because we’re failing, but because the targets ignore the real impact of circular economy efforts,” noted Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland.

“The EU’s current linear weight-based targets do not consider the extended lifespans of modern electronics or the growing emphasis on repair and reuse, meaning Ireland’s true environmental progress goes unrecognised. So, if a mobile phone is repaired or refurbished, it does not count toward Ireland’s official environmental performance, despite keeping raw materials in circulation.

“Newer appliances such as solar PV panels and heat pumps last 15 to 20 years, delaying their recycling eligibility – yet they’re still counted in today’s sales-based targets. We need realistic targets to benchmark our systems and drive improvement. The EU must rethink how it tracks e-waste management to align with circular economy principles.”