RE-Evaluate

RE-Evaluate

The RE-Evaluate Partnership is developing a comprehensive Research and Development programme which includes the collection of EEE for reuse from all over Ireland, and the evaluation and upgrading of existing initiatives for reuse based in the South Dublin region, as well as identifying best practice in reuse from Europe and elsewhere.

(c) Comhar Sustainable Development Council

RE-Evaluate
(c) Comhar Sustainable Development Council

RE-Evaluate

The RE-Evaluate Partnership is developing a comprehensive Research and Development programme which includes the collection of EEE for reuse from all over Ireland, and the evaluation and upgrading of existing initiatives for reuse based in the South Dublin region, as well as identifying best practice in reuse from Europe and elsewhere.

(c) Comhar Sustainable Development Council

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Advances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) have been major contributors to our economic development and standard of living. However, the waste from these products has become the fastest growing waste stream in Europe. E-waste is commonly illegally exported to countries without the necessary infrastructure to appropriately treat end-of-life electronics. This has been identified as a global environmental risk and a threat both to the health and environment of recipient nations.

Old electronic components

Reuse of EEE has remained a marginal activity in Ireland and is applicable to only a small proportion of E-waste.

(c) Comhar Sustainable Development Council

Old electronic components
(c) Comhar Sustainable Development Council

Old electronic components

Reuse of EEE has remained a marginal activity in Ireland and is applicable to only a small proportion of E-waste.

(c) Comhar Sustainable Development Council

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There is also a growing scarcity of raw materials for production of new electrical and electronic goods. Electrical and Electronic Equipment is a significant consumer of raw materials in production. It also uses huge amount of energy in production, use and recycling and is a major contributor to CO2 emissions and resultant climate change.

Recycled Computer Parts
(c) Comhar Sustainable Development Council

The European Union has responded to the some challenges posed by this with a number of policies and Directives. Although European legislation has discouraged disposal and encouraged recycling, some think it has discouraged reuse. Producers have generally failed in their obligations to ‘design for environment’ and failed to design against product obsolescence. Reuse of EEE has remained a marginal activity in Ireland and is applicable to only a small proportion of E-waste. The experience of successful reuse projects outside Ireland indicates that a much higher proportion of appliances and equipment E-waste could be diverted from reprocessing by successful refurbishment and reuse.

The RE-Evaluate Project has been awarded funding over the next three years, by the Irish Government’s Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for the Environment (STRIVE) Programme, which is supported and co-ordinated by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Old washing machines

The experience of successful reuse projects outside Ireland indicates that a much higher proportion of appliances and equipment E-waste could be diverted from reprocessing by successful refurbishment and reuse.

(c) Comhar Sustainable Development Council

Old washing machines
(c) Comhar Sustainable Development Council

Old washing machines

The experience of successful reuse projects outside Ireland indicates that a much higher proportion of appliances and equipment E-waste could be diverted from reprocessing by successful refurbishment and reuse.

(c) Comhar Sustainable Development Council

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RE-Evaluate is a partnership formed between the University of Limerick Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Clondalkin Community Recycling Initiative and Rehab Enterprises Ltd. The RE-Evaluate Partnership is developing a comprehensive Research and Development programme which includes the collection of EEE for reuse from all over Ireland, and the evaluation and upgrading of existing initiatives for reuse based in the South Dublin region, as well as identifying best practice in reuse from Europe and elsewhere.