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WEEE Regulations
WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
Under the WEEE Regulations, retailers are obliged to accept back WEEE from customers free of charge on a one for one basis.
In 2008, the regulations were extended to include batteries. Retailers that sell batteries are now obliged to provide battery collection points for their customers.
Examples of items that come under these regulations include:
- Large and small household appliances – (e.g. washing machines, toasters)
- Computers, Mobile Phones
- Lighting equipment – (e.g. lamps)
- Electrical and electronic tools – (e.g. drills)
- Toys, leisure and sports equipment – (e.g. Electric Train sets)
- Medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infected products)- (e.g. electronic thermometers).
- Batteries
Each Retailer must now:
- Register with WEEE Ireland or with their local authority. To register with Galway City Council, there is an annual fee of €20.00 per premises. The application form can be downloaded here. There is no fee to register with WEEE Ireland.
- Provide for free in-store take back of household WEEE on a one-for-one basis on the sale of a new like product
- Ensure that any WEEE collected is delivered to an approved collection facility
- Ensure that the storage and transport of WEEE collected as above meets the requirements of the Regulations
- Ensure that private households are informed of the WEEE take back facilities available to them and that they are encouraged to participate in the separate collection of WEEE.
These obligations are contained in detail in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government’s Information Notes:
WEEE and the Retailer Information Note
Waste Batteries and the Retailer Information Note
It should be noted that since the above information notes were published in October 2008, a significant change with regard to the registration process has taken place. Retailers now have the option to register with either Galway City Council or WEEE Ireland.
To register with Galway City Council, there is an annual fee of €20.00 per premises. The application form can be downloaded here. There is no fee to register with WEEE Ireland.
If you have any queries or you require further information please contact:
Environment Section,
Galway City Council,
City Hall,
College Road,
Galway
Tel: 091 536400
Email: weee@galwaycity.ie