Consumers will save millions from new directive

Mary Dundon, Political Reporter

Up to now, consumers had to cover the cost of disposing of all electrical goods themselves. Fridges cost up to 40 to dispose of because they had to be brought to a special recycling unit where the gas was taken out of them.

But Environment Minister Dick Roche will launch new Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment regulations today that will force retailers to cover the cost of disposing of these items.

“If someone buys a wide range of electrical goods from a retailer, then they will now be obliged to dispose of the customer’s old items in an environmentally friendly way,” Mr Roche’s spokesman said.

These regulations are being brought in so that Ireland will comply with EU regulations on the disposal of electrical goods and electronic equipment.

The Consumers Association of Ireland welcomed the move.

“It will save consumers all over the country millions in the cost of disposing of old electrical white goods, particularly fridges,” chairman Michael Kilcoyne said.

But he warned that the additional cost of disposing of these goods must not be passed on to the consumers by retailers who might hike the price of new goods to cover their disposal costs.

“The minister must ensure this does not happen. Otherwise it defeats the whole purpose of the exercise,” Mr Kilcoyne added.

But the Retailers, Grocery and Allied Traders Association (RGDATA) said they were seeking further information from the minister on how the new scheme will operate.

“This is part of an EU directive and will be the law, but we need a further understanding on how it will impact on retailers before we could make any further comment,” director general Tara Buckley said.