Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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252. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he has taken to provide a national recycling service for nitrous oxide canisters. [61871/25]

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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259. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the resources which are available within the State to assist people with the safe disposal of NOS canisters; the guidelines and resources which have been provided to local authorities regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62230/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 259 together.

According to EU waste legislation, discarded pressurised containers of nitrous oxide should be classified and treated as hazardous waste. In addition, I am informed that nitrous oxide is subject to an ongoing opinion process under the regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), which may result in restrictions prohibiting its sale above the relevant concentration limit to the general public.

Used Nitrous Oxide cannisters should not be placed in the residual waste bin or the recycling bin due to their hazardous nature and require a specialist hazardous waste disposal service for collection and appropriate treatment.

Under the Waste Framework Directive, since 1 January 2025 hazardous waste from households has to be collected separately. The Department is currently engaging with the local authority sector to ensure that there is an effective system in place to allow households to appropriately dispose of their hazardous waste in line with EU Waste Framework Directive requirements. Effective implementation of this measure, supported by EU Commission guidance, should contribute to reducing the presence of pressurised nitrous oxide containers in mixed municipal waste. The Commission has also stated that, if necessary following Member State implementation of the separate collection obligation for hazardous waste, they may consider additional measures to support the effective removal of nitrous oxide canisters from mixed municipal waste.