RECENT NEWS...
The Association of Electrical Wholesalers (AEW) and WEEE Ireland are redoubling their eff orts in 2021 to drive a big increase in the recycling of waste lighting through the AEW’s 130 Electrical Wholesale outlets in Ireland. WEEE Ireland CEO Leo Donovan comments:
“WEEE Ireland has been working on behalf of the lighting sector to organize the collection and recycling of waste lighting for the past 16 years. The success of the scheme is due to the participation of all the stakeholders across the lighting industry, from Manufacturers/Distributors to Electrical Wholesalers to Electrical Contractors. We should be very proud of the infrastructure we have developed together to facilitate the return and recycling of waste lighting across all 26 counties. In particular, our main recycling partner, Irish Lamps Recycling (ILR), has worked very eff ectively not only with Electrical Wholesalers to collect waste lighting from their premises but also with Electrical Contractors to collect waste lighting directly from construction sites”.
“The lighting industry has
undergone signifi cant changes
since WEEE Ireland started its
scheme back in 2005. Today, LED
integrated luminaires are the fi rst
choice for most new installations
and refurbishments, supporting
many of the objectives of new
Climate Change, Circular Economy
and Sustainable Product legislation
due to their long-lasting durability
and their energy effi ciency. As a
result, lighting products such as fl uorescent tubes and CFLs and
their associated luminaires are
being replaced every day of the week
and, as they are all hazardous to
the environment, they need to be
recycled responsibly by everyone”.
AEW Administrator Ken Legros
reports: “As an organization, the
AEW has really started to pull
together over the last 12 months
and our membership has now
expanded to a total of 130 branches
with the recent addition of CEF’s
13 branches plus a number of new
independent members too. WEEE
Recycling is not only a vital service
that AEW members can off er to their
customers to help them to get rid of
their used lamps and luminaires in
an environmentally-friendly way, but
it also has commercial benefi ts too
because it brings repeat customers
back to their Trade Counters”.
Two of the best examples of
Electrical Wholesalers who have
embraced WEEE Recycling as a
key part of their overall service to
customers are M. Kelliher Electrical
in Ballymount and Cliff ord
Electrical in Sligo.
“We treat WEEE Recycling as part
of our everyday business”, says
The Association of Electrical Wholesalers (AEW) has announced that it will become a ‘kindred association’ of the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) in 2021. “We have been working on this for the last six months with Margaret Fitzsimons, EDA Chief Executive, and her team”, says Ken Legros, AEW Administrator. “Like the AEW in Ireland, the EDA represents the vast majority of electrical wholesalers in the UK. It also has over 90 affiliated manufacturer, service and solution provider members from the electrotechnical supply chain.
At a time when the AEW is actively trying to rebuild itself, we will be able to draw on the vast experience of the EDA to help us to shape our future direction.” The AEW will have access to the EDA education and training program in 2021 and, in particular, a 12-module series that can be studied in whole or in part, depending on the needs and profile of the business.
These distance-learning modules cover virtually every type of product sold through our supply chain and are suitable for all members of staff, irrespective of their experience. Modules range from ‘Introduction to the Principles of Electricity’ to ‘Lighting Systems and Controls’, ‘Heating and Ventilation’, ‘Distribution, Switchgear and Protection’ and ‘Customer Services’, to name but a few.
The program is both
City & Guilds and CPD accredited, so
learners will receive a certificate upon
the successful completion of each
module.
“We are really excited to be able to offer
such a comprehensive training program
to our members in 2021”, says Ken.
“Education and training has always been
a problematic area for the AEW and its
members, particularly for new recruits,
but also for experienced staff who
would like to brush up on their technical
knowledge. We are confident that the
EDA modules will satisfy these needs
and that AEW members will support this
initiative in large numbers.”
Margaret Fitzsimons comments, “Much
time, resource and expertise went into
the creation of these modules. The
whole industry pulled together to make
them happen and everyone involved
is very proud of the final result. Our
wholesaler and manufacturer members use them in many different ways – as part of an induction program, for transitioning to an active sales role or for upskilling. We have received nothing but positive feedback since the program was introduced. I am really pleased that they will be used by our colleagues in Ireland and we are happy to support them in any way that we can.”
“The AEW is very grateful to Margaret and her team for their help and co-operation to date”, says Ken, “and we
look forward to working with them in
2021 and beyond.”
T: +353 (0)85 207 2761
E: admin@iebg.ie
www.aew.ie
The Association of Electrical Wholesalers (AEW) is asking electrical wholesalers to help boost recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) by encouraging customers to return their waste light fittings and lamps.
AEW is running a poster campaign at every trade counter nationwide aimed at highlighting a free recycling service for customers.
As the poster campaign coincides with the start of the lighting season, AEW Administrator, Ken Legros, is confident that it will generate significant increases in the amount of WEEE recycled through electrical wholesalers over the next five or six months. “The AEW and its 100+ members have worked closely with WEEE Ireland and Irish Lamps Recycling over the last few years to improve the WEEE recycling performance in the industry and this new campaign is aimed at taking it to the next level”, says Ken.
“Some electrical wholesalers have been doing a sterling job when it comes to recycling, while others are now starting to follow suit, so I would encourage all AEW members to visit the WEEE Ireland website www.weeeireland.ie to learn more about recycling best practice”.
On a more general note, AEW membership has been reinvigorated this year with the addition of CEF and also a number of independent wholesalers, with the result that the AEW now represents over 90% of electrical wholesalers in the Republic of Ireland. New members are always welcome, however, and membership for 2021 is now open. To apply, email Ken Legros at admin@iebg.ie or call him on 085 2072761.
The AEW is affiliated to the Electrical Industries Federation of Ireland (EIFI) and represents the views of electrical wholesalers in that forum. The AEW is currently working on two ‘hot topics’, firstly, the New Wiring Rules and secondly, a staff training programme. To find out more, AEW members are encouraged to attend the next AEW meeting which is scheduled for 10am on Wednesday, October 14, at the Clayton Hotel, Liffey Valley, Dublin – dependent on Covid-19 restrictions at that time.
Thanks to everyone who supported the Determined 4 Dylan Cycle. Representing IEBG members
were Michael Bissett from Hager, Martin Mahon from N2 Electric (together his cycling companions
from the Yellow Furze Road Club), and JJ Colgan from TEF Tullamore also took part. All contributed
greatly to the day, with a total of €15,500 being raised for this cause.
Dylan was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Distrophy in 2017. DMD is a rare progressive muscle
wasting disease that mainly affects young boys. As it’s progressive, every muscle in the body is
affected. Boys can be wheelchair bound before their teens. There are huge efforts being made in the
medical world to find better treatments and hopefully a cure.
Determined 4 Dylan was set up to assist Dylan in practical ways, such as equipment and supplements
outside of the approved medical field. Also, money raised will go directly to companies involved in
research to finding a cure for this terrible disease.
