EC attacks electronic waste law ‘failure’

THE Government has been criticised by the European Commission over its failure to enact legislation to tackle the growing problem of electronic waste.

Outgoing EU Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallstrom has expressed disappointment that Ireland missed last week’s deadline to transpose two important EU directives into national legislation.

The directives are designed to ensure old electric and electronic products are recycled and reused rather than dumped or incinerated. The legislation will apply to such goods as washing machines, freezers, television sets, computers and mobile phones.

Ms Wallstrom said the transposition of the directives by each member state was the first important step in reducing the environmental damage caused by current disposal methods.

She said the manner in which electronic goods were disposed of could have adverse health effects through the contamination of air, water and soil.

“They pose real problems in the municipal waste stream because they are often made up of hazardous material. The two new directives will put an end to this - but only once they are transposed into national law,” Ms Wallstrom said. “We need to act quickly to stop the damage that electric waste is creating.”

In Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates electronic waste is growing by 7.5% on average each year with up to 82,000 tonnes of electronic waste being generated each year.

According to the EU, it is growing three times faster than other types of consumer waste with each individual producing 14kg of electronic waste per annum.

Under EU directives, consumers will be able to take all electronic goods back to shops and collection points free of charge from August 2005. Many local authorities currently charge a fee to accept such waste.

The EU laws will also ban hazardous substances such as lead and cadmium from all electronic equipment manufactured after July 2006.

A spokesperson for the Department of Environment said enabling legislation was being drawn up and should be ready by the end of the year.