Timmy Dooley
Ceist:197. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding producer obligations. [48460/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 21 November 2018
Ceisteanna (197)
Freagraí scríofa
Under the European Union (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations - S.I. 149 of 2014, a producer of Electrical and Electronic Equipment is defined as any person who irrespective of selling technique used, including by means of distance communication:
- manufactures and sells electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) under his or her own brand;
- resells under his or her own brand, equipment produced by other suppliers; or,
- imports or exports EEE on a professional basis into a Member State.
As a producer of EEE, the main obligations are as follows:
- Producers must register with the Registration Body - The Producer Register Limited (PRL);
- Producers are obligated to declare the quantities of EEE that are placed on the market to the PRL through the WEEE Blackbox;
- Finance the environmentally sound management of WEEE by joining either one of two approved compliance schemes: WEEE Ireland or European Recycling Platform Ireland or through self-compliance;
- Ensure EEE placed on the market is in compliance with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Regulations.
The PRL was established to assist producers in meeting their obligations for the responsible management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and from September 2008, producer obligations for waste batteries and accumulators.
This is in line with the requirements of the WEEE Directive which requires producers to be responsible for the financing of the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of WEEE.
The principal functions of the PRL include:
- Registration of producers of electrical and electronic equipment and waste batteries and accumulators;
- Notifying the EPA where there is evidence of non-compliance with the Regulations;
-Verification of visible Environmental Management Costs (vEMC) that are applicable to WEEE;
- Determination of the market share of individual producers.
Enforcement of the producer registration requirements of the WEEE Regulations are a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency and under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996, as Minister, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by the EPA in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it, including enforcement functions.