Art installation created with WEEE sourced from KMK Metals Recycling

Irish artist Áinne Burke used e-waste, mainly sourced from KMK Metals Recycling, to create an art installation entitled the ‘WEEE Self’, which went on display in Moor House in London in December.

Áinne said she designed the piece “to get people thinking about all the electronics in their lives; where the materials come from, who mines and refines them and the environmental and social impacts along the journey to manufacturing them into all the devices used across all industries”.

“Think about your own mobile phone – which has 75 elements mined from earth’s rocks globally – you are holding the most universally travelled materials in your mobile phone and there are more of them than there are toothbrushes in the world.”

The piece was displayed at the window of a busy street along with posters for passers-by and an outline including photos of the design and production process.

Áinne visited KMK Metals Recycling headquarters in Tullamore in 2022 to tour the facility and choose the electrical components and cables. Mobile phones used in the piece were sourced from Tech Takeback UK.

Kevin Thornton, battery manager of KMK Metals Recycling, said: “Áinne was interested in our processes and how materials are broken down into components for recycling. We are always supportive of artists who approach us for materials as these works of art help drive home the message of how important it is to recycle old electronics and expose and re-use the precious materials within them.”

Moor House, designed by Foster and Partners, is a prominent building in the City of London.