Amazon Web Services (AWS) is taking a big step in reusing and recycling its datacentre hardware with a new facility in Dublin, Ireland. Operated by its Re:Cycle Reverse Logistics branch, this site focuses on giving a second life to parts of AWS datacentre hardware, such as processors and network cards, and even recovering precious metals from these components.
The Dublin facility is a significant move for Amazon, marking the first of its kind outside the US. Given AWS’s extensive datacentre presence in Ireland—10 datacentres just in Dublin—this decision makes perfect sense. In March 2023, Re:Cycle Reverse Logistics Ireland was established to align with Amazon’s goals for net-zero carbon emissions, and by December of that year, they had brought 18 people on board.
AWS claims that this new facility and its manufacturing sites have generated 850 jobs in Ireland while helping the company pursue its net-zero targets. They emphasize that this initiative reduces the need for new parts, conserving raw materials and energy. AWS highlighted that they focus primarily on reuse and that any waste produced doesn’t end up in landfills; instead, it gets sent for high-end recycling.
Roderic O’Gorman, the Green Party leader and Ireland’s minister for children, equality, disability, integration, and youth, opened the Re:Cycle facility. He spoke about the significance of circular economy projects. “We need to work together to ensure that products are kept in use for as long as possible through smart design, repair, and reuse,” he said. He was particularly impressed by the skills and dedication of the hundreds of workers at the Dublin site, and he noted that such projects bolster Ireland’s reputation as a leader in sustainability while aiding in climate goals, like halving emissions by 2030.
AWS reports that its reverse logistics programs diverted 14.6 million hardware components from landfills around the globe in 2023.