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Residents in Cork are being encouraged to participate in a series of free collection days where they can dispose of their batteries, electrical items, and electronic waste.

This initiative aims to support the county in achieving its national e-waste recycling targets for 2023.

The events, hosted by WEEE Ireland in partnership with Cork County Council, will take place on 10 June at Five Foot Way car park in Whitepoint, Ringmeen, Cobh from 10am-4pm, on Saturday 17 June at the Cork Marts in Corrin, Fermoy, from 10am-4pm and on 24 June at the Bring Centre, Kilbarry Road in Dunmanway from 10am-4pm.

All household items with a plug or a battery will be accepted free of charge, including old washing machines, TVs, toasters and kettles, electronic tools and toys, cables, IT equipment, mobile phones, remote controls, batteries, including farm fence batteries, and watches.

WEEE Ireland CEO Leo Donovan said: "In Cork, and across Ireland, we are buying more electrical goods than ever – with the annual tonnage on the market rising significantly from 15kg a head in 2016 to 23kg a head in 2022.

"With old items still lying around many households, we want to offer the opportunity to recycle these for free. People in Cork have contributed greatly to e-waste recycling every year, and we want to encourage that trend."

10.83kg of e-waste was recycled per person in Cork last year, falling short of the 2020 collection rate of 11.12kg and the national average of 10.86kg per person. However, the county's e-waste target for 2023 has increased to 14kg per person, to reflect yearly increases in electrical goods consumption, accelerated by Covid-19.

Mr Donovan added: "82% of all material that we collect is recovered for use again in manufacturing through both indigenous operators and specialist processors in Europe. Most end-of-life products contain metals and minerals in higher concentrations than primary resources.

"These stocks of resources are the urban mines of the future, so our recycling efforts can have a significant impact on the environment."

Don O'Sullivan, Senior Executive Engineer over Waste Operations at Cork County Council said: "Recycling e-waste is incredibly beneficial for both the environment and the economy. Together, we are diverting waste from landfill, recovering raw materials for reuse and ensuring hazardous materials are safely and responsibly disposed of."

Left: Cork householders are being urged to bring their batteries, electrical, and electronic waste to a set of free collection days, hosted by WEEE Ireland in partnership Cork County Council. Photo: Conor McCabe Photography