Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position with the proposed EU directive on recycling of electronic waste; the additional burden this directive will place on electrical retailers; if he will consider putting the onus for the safe disposal of electronic waste on the supplier and manufacturer rather than the retailer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17682/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I have recently published draft regulations implementing the EU directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment, WEEE, and a consultation process is currently taking place.

Primary responsibility for the environmentally sound management of WEEE rests with producers, in line with the producer responsibility obligations imposed by the directive. Producers will be required under the draft legislation to finance the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of WEEE deposited by retailers and members of the public at collection facilities and to achieve the prescribed recovery targets.

The directive also involves a shared responsibility approach as between the various stakeholders, including retailers who will have an important role in ensuring effective implementation and operation of the directive. In particular, retailers will be required to take back household WEEE on a one-for-one basis when selling new equipment. I am satisfied that the draft legislation strikes the right balance between the responsibilities of the relevant stakeholders.

All comments and observations received on the draft regulations will be considered by my Department in finalising the regulations, which I intend to make in advance of the implementation of the WEEE directive on 13 August 2005.