Reuse Statistics for Ireland

Reuse highlights from 2024

This page contains EPA’s quantitative and qualitative Reuse data for Ireland in 2024 (released July 2026). These data are submitted to Eurostat for reporting requirements under the revised Waste Framework Directive and Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/19 and are subject to further validation.

Highlights ~ Quantitative data ~ Target ~ Qualitative data ~ More information ~ Links

Quantitative reuse data

Reuse is defined as any operation by which products or components that are not waste are used again for the same purpose for which they were conceived. Reuse does not include recycling or preparing for reuse, where items enter the waste stream and undergo treatment.

Ireland’s per capita reuse target

The National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy sets out a per capita reuse target of 20 kg/person/annum, to be achieved by 2030.

In 2024 reuse was measured as 15.5 kg/person in Ireland, which is relatively consistent with the previous data.

In 2021, the overall reuse per person in Ireland was 15.9kg. Meaning that on average each person in Ireland received or bought 15.9kg of second-hand items during 2021.

NOTE: The 2021 figures were amended due to the revision of total furniture from 14,915 tonnes to 41,890 tonnes nationally, as some data was originally omitted. This increased the average per capita reuse rate from 10.6 kg/person/annum to 15.9kg/person/annum.

Qualitative reuse data

Qualitative data on ‘measures for reuse’ under the headings educational, economic, logistic and other are compiled each year through a survey of the National Reuse and Repair Network.

More information

The EPA collects both quantitative and qualitative data on reuse activities in Ireland.

Quantitative reuse data

Reuse is reported across the following product categories:
Textiles
Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Furniture
Construction materials
Other products
To support the collection of quantitative data on reuse, the EPA engaged with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to include reuse questions in the CSO’s Environmental Behaviours – Waste and Recycling 2024
Survey respondents were asked whether they had purchased or received secondhand items in the previous 12 months (reference year 2024) across five categories: textiles, furniture, Electrical and Electronic Equipment, construction and other. Respondents were also asked to provide information on how obtained these items, through 1) private gift, donation or swap, 2) secondhand shop or marketplace, or 3) an online platform. Further information is available the CSO’s website.
This method of data collection has changed from the previous reporting period, previously the EPA engaged with Behaviour & Attitudes (Ipsos B&A) to carry out this survey.
For each of the reporting categories, item quantities were converted to tonnes using standard conversion factors and aggregated to align with EU reporting categories.
The data reflects reuse by households and does not include commercial reuse, business-to-business activity, or reuse in construction projects.
Quantitative reuse data must be reported at least every third year from 2021 onwards.
Reuse has a national target of 20 kg per person per year by 2030, see the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy 2024-2030 for further information.

Qualitative reporting – measures for reuse

Qualitative information on measures for reuse are reported every year, with 2021 the first reference year reported.
To gather qualitative information on measures for reuse in reference year 2024 the EPA surveyed members of the National Reuse and Repair Network (NRRN).
Information was gathered on four types of measures for reuse: Economic, Educational, Logistic, and Other. Educational measures were the most frequently reported in 2024, with examples including provision of guidance on reuse for priority sectors, in-person events facilitating knowledge sharing on reuse, and communication campaigns to promote awareness of reuse.
Eight members of the NRRN provided information. For further information on the NRRN and its member organisations see the link below.