Recycling charge scrapped on small electrical goods
The Environmental Management Charge (EMC), introduced in August 2005 under the European Union’s WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive, has also been removed from energy-efficient CFL light bulbs, which up to now have attracted a 50 cent charge each.
However, consumers will face EMCs of between €2 and €20 when buying larger electrical items such as televisions, washing machines, computers and cookers, while a €30 fee — down from €40 — will apply to the biggest of household fridges.
Environment Minister John Gormley welcomed the reductions, which he said were a reflection of the scheme’s success. The volume of goods collected for recycling meant the two not-for-profit firms operating it were able to cut their charges. He said he hoped retailers would pass on the reductions to consumers.
In the 34 months that the scheme operated, consumers have returned so many end-of-life goods to retailers or to free local authority collection points that Ireland more than doubled the European Union target of recycling four kilos of goods per person per year.
In total 11.4 million items have been collected, diverting from landfill more than 1.3m large domestic appliances such as cookers and refrigerators, as well as about 380,000 television sets. Last year alone 6.7m electrical items were recycled.
Despite the scheme’s success though, Irish consumers are slower in returning small electrical items for recycling. These include irons, toasters, hairdryers and hi-fi equipment, which are often thrown out in domestic waste.
Returns of smaller goods increased to 24% of total WEEE recycling last year, an improvement on the 18% in 2006 but less than many other EU member states.
“It’s clear that not enough small items of WEEE are being recycled,” said Mr Gormley. “All WEEE is hazardous and none of it, no matter how small, whether it’s DVD players, electronic games, watches or electric toothbrushes, should be placed in the household bin.”
He said retailers were not only legally bound to take back end-of-life items from customers buying replacement goods but were also obliged to inform customers who ask about the free take- back services provided by the local authorities.
For every person, 8.7 kilos of household WEEE was recycled last year, keeping 37,812 tonnes of appliances out of landfill.
WEEE Ireland and the European Recycling Platform, who are contracted to collect and recycle the items, also announced yesterday an investment of €3 million towards the roofing of collection areas at local authority waste disposal sites to stop goods being destroyed by the elements.
