Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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290. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a recycling scheme for gas appliances, similar to the Waste Electrical or Electronic Equipment Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29354/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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There are no proposals to establish a gas appliances recycling system. It should, however, be noted that gas appliances, which are dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work properly, come under the scope of the European Union (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2014 which aim to reduce the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment that ends up in landfill. These Regulations transpose the requirements of the re-cast WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU which came into effect on 14 February 2014. Unlike typical waste gas cookers or boilers which are more easily recycled, WEEE is a complex mixture of materials and components that because of their hazardous content and if not properly managed, can cause major environmental and health problems. Moreover, the production of modern electronics requires the use of scarce and expensive resources. To improve the environmental management of WEEE and to contribute to a circular economy and resource efficiency, enhanced collection, treatment and recycling of electronics at the end of their life is essential.