ICT device lifecycle practices in Irish households: Procurement to disposal
This Bulletin summaries the findings from: Mohan, G (2026) ‘The Information Communication Technology Lifecycle Gap: An integrated analysis of consumer device purchasing priorities and disposal behaviours. Sustainable Consumption and Production. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2026.09.016
Introduction
Electronic waste (e-waste) is growing rapidly, driven by short product lifespans and the frequent replacement of household technologies such as mobile phones. While policies across Europe encourage a "circular economy", where devices are reused or recycled rather than thrown away, many households still struggle to bridge the gap between buying technological devices and their appropriate disposal. This study examines device procurement priorities across Irish households, and their post-use disposal practices.
Data and Methods
The study used data from the CSO’s 2022 Information Society Statistics – Households survey. This is a nationally representative survey of 1,510 people and contains information on how people buy and dispose of mobile phones, laptops and desktop computers. By looking at people's habits and behaviours, the research identified four distinct types of consumers: Pragmatic Recyclers, E-Waste Active/Tech-Engaged, Price-Sensitive Hibernators and Conscious Consumers (explained below).
Results
ICT device purchase priorities are dominated by price (66.1%) and hardware performance (58.3%), while eco-friendly features remain minority concerns (<15%). Post-use trajectories demonstrate widespread resource stagnation: 63.3% of households retain redundant smartphones in domestic storage ("digital hibernation"), while formal recycling rates range from 11.9% (smartphones) to 17.8% (desktops). Table 1 displays four distinct consumer archetypes across the population identified.
Table 1: Summary of consumer latent classes for ICT procurement and disposal
| Class | % | ICT procurement/disposal practices | Socio-demographic characteristics | |
| I | Price-Sensitive Hibernators | 49 |
|
Dominant across most demographics, particularly younger and middle-aged adults (16–44) |
| II | Pragmatic Recyclers | 27 |
|
Skews female, older adults (60+ years), rural or town residents, and non-active labour market participants. |
| III | E-Waste Active / Tech-Engaged | 16 |
|
Skews younger (16–29 years) and male |
| IV | Conscious Consumers | 8 |
|
Skews towards early-to-mid career adults (30–44 years) |
Conclusions
Because different consumer groups have different habits and reasons for their behaviour, passive information campaigns may not be enough to encourage change. Policy makers could consider introducing producer-funded cash-for-gadgets schemes and certified data wiping at collection points to motivate households to release stored tech. Additionally, supporting repair markets through reduced VAT and EU Right to Repair durability mandates may help extend device lifespans.