EU push for scheme to replace 10-year-old appliances

OUT with the old, in with the new.

That’s the message for anyone hanging on to their decade-old appliances. It has been suggested that replacing all the kitchen appliances in Europe that are more than 10 years old would result in reductions equal to the amount of greenhouse gas generated by five million cars or nine power plants.

The European committee of domestic equipment manufacturers want government incentives to help people throw out old fridges, freezes, washing machines and dishwashers and replace them with eco- friendly models.

They also want a new labelling system that shows consumers exactly how efficient the appliances are, and they believe it could all be in place by 2013.

The organisation representing all the big European manufacturers estimates there are about 180 million appliances in use that are at least 10 years old.

They propose spending €10 billion over the next 10 years developing more energy-efficient products. They say that by 2013 the current A rated appliances could be banned from the market.

“This is not a light hearted proposal from the industry that is designed to make more profit.

“We pioneered the efficiency labelling system on a voluntary basis in the past and we believe we need to be ambitious for the future,” said Luigi Meli of the committee.

The Italian government has introduced a tax rebate scheme to encourage people to trade in their old appliances and he believes other governments should consider similar schemes.

The industry that employs more than 200,000 people with a turnover of about €40 billion a year has the capacity to build sufficient new appliances and to recycle the old ones under the EU’s scheme, he added.

Irish MEP Avril Doyle, who is a member of the European Parliament’s environment committee, said she agrees with the new system and the organisation’s proposals.

“This is very welcome when so many are finding excuses not to take up their responsibilities,” she said.