Electronic recycling from next week

Minister for Environment Dick Roche has said there is "no room for failure" in the new arrangements for the recycling of electronic household equipment.

Under the new Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive which comes into force on August 13th, retailers and producers must take in old electronic equipment when new equipment is sold.

In addition, householders will, as and from that date, be able to take electrical items to civic amenity sites where local authorities will have to take them in for free.

Mr Roche said the move would, at a single stroke, remove the incentive for householders to pay unauthorised operators to remove and dispose of waste electrical items.

Under the new regulations, producers will have to pay into a WEEE fund every time they sell a new electrical item.

The money will be used to finance the recycling abroad of older equipment.

Mr Roche maintained the charge would not be passed directly on to purchasers of new equipment, as the industry was extremely competitive.

"Most of the computer companies will just suffer the cost themselves," he said.

He added that the cost of the initiative would be about €14 million annually against sales of more than €1.6 billion.

The charges which the producer or retailer will have to pay the WEEE register are:

€40 for large fridges of more than 250 litres capacity;

€20 for fridges of less than 250 litres capacity;

€20 for other large white goods; and

€5 for microwaves or electric heaters.

Small household appliances will range downwards from €5, while consumer equipment such as televisions will range downwards from €20.

Lighting equipment ranges from €2 to €0.50, and electronic tools will be charged at €3.

The Minister has also written to all city and county managers asking them to "go out and buy or rent" any necessary additional space for recycling facilities.