Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 24 Jan 1995

Vol. 447 No. 11

Written Answers. - Battery Directive.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

133 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment when the Battery Directive is to be transposed into Irish Law; and the way in which unwanted batteries should be currently disposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1363/95]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

The legislative measures which have been adopted to give effect to the Battery Directive in Ireland are (a) the European Communities (Dangerous Substances and Preparations) (Marketing and Use) Regulations, 1994, made by the Minister for Enterprise and Employment on 6 April 1994: these prohibit the marketing of certain alkaline manganese batteries which contain mercury above specified levels; and (b) the European Communities (Batteries and Accumulators) Regulations, 1994, made by the Minister for the Environment on 17 August 1994: these require manufacturers to ensure that batteries and accumulators can be easily removed from appliances other than certain exempted appliances; they also require the marking of batteries and accumulators (and where appropriate the appliances into which they are incorporated) with indications as to heavy metal content, recyclability and separate collection.

The waste Bill, which I will introduce as soon as possible, will provide a basis for such measures, for example deposit and refund systems, which may be desirable to support implementation of the Directive.

My Department is at present in discussion with the Irish battery industry with a view to finalising at an early date a programme for separate collection of batteries for recycling or disposal. The batteries which require separate collection under the Directive are mainly lead acid batteries, of the type generally used in mechanically propelled vehicles, and rechargeable sealed nickel cadmium batteries generally used in domestic appliances. The information available indicates that the vast majority of spent lead acid batteries, approximately 5,000 tonnes per annum, are already separately collected. The quantities of sealed nickel cadmium batteries, rechargeables, arising are much smaller, estimated at 400 tonnes per annum.