Just half of household batteries sold in Ireland are being recycled every year, according to data from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland.
At a time when new Christmas presents have replaced old devices, WEEE Ireland is urging people to recycle used batteries and unwanted small electrical items, instead of storing or binning them.
Its figures show that almost half of all household battery purchases are made during the Christmas shopping period, yet recycling rates remain low.
To support a nationwide New Year clear-out, the e-waste recycling scheme is delivering one million blue battery recycling boxes to homes this month so waste batteries can be disposed of properly. They can be returned for free at participating retailers or local recycling centres.
"As space is made for new gifts, now is the ideal time to carry out a battery and e-waste clear-out," Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland said.
"As well as providing a handy QR code that connects you to a map of hundreds of local drop off points, our blue battery boxes are a simple but powerful reminder that batteries should never go in household bins.
"Returning for recycling ensures the safe recovery and reuse of the materials they contain," Mr O'Donovan said.
The figures also show that last year, 40% of small electronic gift and toy purchases were made over the Christmas period, but only 30% of those were returned to the circular economy for recycling.
Recycling rates for electronic toys such as gaming consoles, e-scooters and battery-operated action figures are even lower, dropping to just 10%, leaving millions of unused, broken or obsolete toys being left to one side in homes or discarded incorrectly in the household bin.
"Every home in Ireland can make a difference. Batteries don’t belong in the bin - they belong in recycling. When we dispose of them incorrectly, we risk fires and environmental pollution," Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Alan Dillon said.
"This January, WEEE Ireland is delivering one million battery boxes to households. Let's use them. Collect every old battery from toys, decorations, and devices, and return them to your local retailer or recycling centre.
"It’s free, safe, and it protects our environment. Together, we can keep dangerous chemicals out of landfill and rare materials in circulation. Let’s make 2026 about responsibility and care for each other," he said.
