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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Jul 1990

Vol. 401 No. 4

Written Answers. - CFCs Recycling.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

66 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the facilities which exist in Ireland for the recycling of CFCs from old refrigerators; and the way in which the £50,000 being made available for this purpose will be used.

Roger T. Garland

Question:

186 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to reports that an estimated 20,000 refrigerators containing CFCs are being dumped annually in tipheads in the County Dublin area; that there are no facilities available to the councils to retrieve the CFCs from the redundant refrigerators; if he has made or intends to make any plans in order that the councils can recover the CFCs and dispose of them in an environmentally friendly manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 186 together.

At present, recovery facilities for CFCs used as coolants in refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment are provided by the main suppliers of those substances in Ireland to their industrial/commercial customers; recovered CFCs would be transported to their original suppliers in the UK and elsewhere for cleaning and recycling, as necessary. My Department has initiated contact with these and other relevant companies with a view to having CFC recovery facilities extended to cover as much refrigeration equipment as possible, including old domestic fridges which are being disposed of. I have also asked local authorities to consider how best they can facilitate or assist the process of recovery and recycling of these CFCs.
I am anxious to ensure that the most effective use is made of the £50,000 that is provided in the environment action programme for the recovery and recycling of CFCs. In that context, the allocation of the £50,000 will not be finally decided until the discussions with the parties mentioned already are concluded in the near future. The situation as referred to in the media reports mentioned by Deputy Garland will be borne in mind in that regard.
CFCs used as coolants represent a relatively small part of the CFCs used in refrigeration equipment. The bulk of the CFCs are used in the insulation foam. At the moment it is not economically feasible to recover those CFCs. I will however, keep developments in this area under review, and the Deputies can be assured that any option which becomes feasible will be pursued without delay.
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