Galwegians are getting getting into the habit of recycling, according to figures released this week by WEEE Ireland.
Last year alone more than 1,850 tonnes of electronic waste was recycled in Galway. This equates to seven kilogrammes of electrical waste recycling per person in Galway, almost double the original EU target of four kilogrammes per head.
More than 258 tonnes of electrical waste came from WEEE Ireland collections days that were held throughout the county.
On average eight electrical items per Galway household were collected for recycling in 2015, with Galway people recycling 17 per cent more than they did in 2014. Approximately 75 per cent of Galway householders are now actively recycling their electrical and battery waste according to WEEE Ireland's latest statistics.
Sinn Féin Senator Trevor O'Clochhartaigh welcomed the new publication.
"It is always encouraging when you see these types of statistics. The local authorities must take credit for this as they have had very successful collection programmes where there are specific days where people can bring in their electrical waste."
However the senator did point out more can be done in the county for recycling, calling on the Minister of the Environment Simon Coveney for a recycling centre in south Connemara.
"There is a glaring gap in the waste collection system in south Connemara where we do not have a recycling centre which was planned. Údarás na Gaeltachta had earmarked a site and Galway County Council have it on their county development plan. The only issue holding it back is funding.
"So I am calling on the Minister of the Environment to make funding available to Galway County Council, so they can do that so we can increase and improve these great recycling figures for next year."
As a whole, Ireland sits at the top of the EU table when it comes to recycling, with Irish consumers recycling 60 per cent of electrical waste.
