Irish people have recycled more kettles than any other electronic appliance, according to figures from the European Recycling Platform.
We also embraced more electronic recycling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ERP Ireland says there was a 9% increase in electronic waste recycling per person, with over 5.6 million electrical items collected during 2020.
The figures also highlight a 19% increase in the recycling of large kitchen appliances - including washing machines, ovens and dishwashers - with an average 56% jump in the recycling of these objects during April and May compared to the previous year.
ERP Ireland says it also collected 530 tonnes of batteries in 2020 - a 7% increase from 2019.
'It really does make a huge difference'
Over two-thirds of respondents claimed to have unused electrical items in their home.
A kettle was the most recycled object over the past 12 months, with one in four Irish adults claiming to have recycled one in the past year.
TVs (19%), large kitchen appliances (17%), plugs/cables/chargers (16%), microwaves (14%), toaster/sandwich makers (14%) and mobile phones (13%) were also amongst the top items recycled.
While one in five Irish adults has a DVD player and video player unused gathering dust in their homes.
A PC or laptop was the most repaired item in 2020, with one in 10 people fixing one in the last year.
Martin Tobin is the CEO of ERP Ireland. He told Newstalk Breakfast more and more items are getting reused.
"We've seen a considerable increase in the volume of electronic waste recycled in the last couple of years, which is quite significant.
"We conducted a 'Recycling Habits during COVID' survey, which really gives us deeper insight into the numbers and the recycling behaviours.
"It really does make a huge difference if people do present electronics to recycling".
He breaks down some of the numbers.
"We've seen, for example, a 3% increase overall in the amount of electronics recycled.
"But even within that, we've seen a massive increase in the amount of fridge-freezers presented.
"And we're also starting to see a shift with people recycling more of the small domestic appliances - the stuff that usually gets hoarded.
"So this is a really, really welcome change that the results have shown us".
And Martin says now is the perfect time to clear out that cupboard.
"All of these electronics contain valuable resources and materials.
"If they are presented for recycling, the vast majority of these components can actually be recovered and reused again.
"And we're really calling out the people now - we're fast approaching a one-off bank holiday which, by coincidence, is also Global Recycling Day.
"We really want to encourage people in Ireland to go green over St Patrick's and into this period to really gather their unused electronic appliances".
And on Ireland's most recycled electric product, he adds: "We're going through kettles like nobody's business - the amount of kettles that have been presented for recycling is phenomenal.
"We're obviously making lots of tea and having lots of chats; but we are at least we're doing the right thing in giving the kettles back for recycling".
