Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 1

Written Answers - Waste Disposal.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

139 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps it is intended to take to ensure that producers of electrical goods comply with their obligations under the new regulations to recover their products once they are out of service; the reason manufacturers of fridges and freezers have been excluded from the provision of the regulations, especially having regard to the environmental dangers of CFCs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8756/03]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

The EU Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment will require the producers of electrical goods to put in place systems to ensure that electronic and electrical waste is collected and recycled to the greatest extent possible. To this end I have established a taskforce, representative of relevant industry interests and public authorities, to develop proposals for a producer responsibility initiative for this waste stream, which should enable the producers of electrical and electronic goods to put in place cost effective systems for collection and recycling, to the greatest extent possible. I expect delivery of a comprehensive set of recommendations by the end of the year and will transpose the directive into Irish law by the due date in August 2004.

In accordance with the directive, by August 2005, holders of electronic and electrical waste will be entitled to leave that waste back free of charge, either to the place of purchase or to other authorised collection points. Fridges and freezers are included within the scope of the directive. However, as set out in the reply to Question No. 129 of 4 February 2003, separate EU regulations affected the disposal of fridges and freezers with effect from 1 January 2002. In response my Department, within the co-operative framework of the North-South Ministerial Council, has developed an all-island approach to the disposal of waste fridges and freezers in co-operation with the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland. Tenders were sought in September 2002 on behalf of all local authorities, North and South, for the provision of the recovery service, which I expect will be put in place shortly.