The devices contain lithium batteries, plastic and electrical parts, which are not entering the recycling system.

‘We’re urging everyone – if it’s old, broken or obsolete, recycle it,’ the chief executive of WEEE Ireland said.

WEEE Ireland is calling for greater awareness of recycling electronic devices as consumption increases.

Two thirds of small electronics are not being recycled.

Approximately 18.1 million appliances were collected for recycling in Ireland last year.