Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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292. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the new WEEE agreement between retailers and his Department will be furnished to retailers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10515/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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There is no WEEE agreement between my Department and the retail sector. The important role that electrical and electronic equipment retailers play in the WEEE system in Ireland is underpinned by the obligations placed on such retailers by the European Union (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2014. These include the following legal requirements:

- Provide free in-store take back for customers buying new electrical equipment;

- Ensure that waste electrical products are stored and transported to an approved collection facility appropriately;

- Ensure that consumers of electrical equipment are aware of the take-back options available to them.

In order to enhance the volumes of WEEE being collected from retailers, an agreement between the retail sector and WEEE producer compliance schemes has been in place since 2014. Under the terms of this agreement, funding is being provided for safe storage, education and signage and communications to promote and support the recycling of electrical and electronic waste through the retail take back system.

While I understand that this agreement has recently been renewed, my Department is not a party to it and has no role in disseminating such an agreement to the retail sector.