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Galway Gaeltacht leads circular economy efforts to extend the life of electrical and electronic devices

Galway, Ireland – 13th November

Irish communities are being invited to take part in a new European survey exploring how people purchase, use, and maintain their electrical and electronic appliances. The research aims to better understand what influences our decisions when buying devices and what happens to them when they break or are no longer needed.

The survey, created by Thomas More University of Applied Sciences (Belgium), is being conducted on behalf of the Interreg North-West Europe E6 Project and brings together partners from Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands working to extend the lifetime of End-of-Use Electrical and Electronic Equipment.

In Ireland, the E6 project is being led by Údarás na Gaeltachta and Comhairle Ceantar na nOileán, who are developing and managing the Irish pilot ecosystem in the Galway Gaeltacht region. They are working in partnership with ERNACT (European Regions Network for the Application of Communications Technology), based in Donegal, including the Rediscovery Centre Dublin, Ireland’s national centre for the circular economy and Repairmy dstuff.ie, Ireland’s leading on-line repair directory.

This survey focuses on people’s everyday experiences with household and personal electronic devices from large appliances like washing machines and televisions to smaller gadgets and tools. It aims to uncover what’s important to consumers when they buy an appliance, how they use it, and how they deal with repairs or disposal.

“By taking part in the survey, people in the Gaeltacht and across Ireland can help us understand how we value and use our devices,” said Patrick McHugh of Údarás na Gaeltachta. “This will help shape new local and European initiatives that make it easier for communities to repair, reuse, and extend the life of their electronics.

The findings will contribute to developing new community-based approaches and digital tools to extend the lifespan of electrical and electronic products, reduce waste, and support local green economies.

Have your say! Take part in the survey, available in both English and Irish versions. The survey takes is open to everyone living in Ireland.