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[Press Release: July 25th, 2008] Greens welcome new regulations for producer funded recycling of waste batteriesGreen Party Cllr Ciaran O’Brien welcomed the new battery recycling scheme in Ireland following the making of new Regulations by Mr. John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage, and Local Government to transpose and implement a new EU Batteries Directive which comes into operation across the EU on 26 September next.Cllr O’Brien said: “From 26 September 2008, final users of waste batteries will be entitled to leave them back free of charge, either to retail outlets selling equivalent batteries, or other authorised collection points, including local authority civic amenity sites, from that date onwards. Retail outlets that sell batteries will be required to take waste batteries even where the person depositing the waste batteries does not purchase a new battery”. “Workplaces and schools, subject to the agreement of local management, can also be designated as collection points” Cllr O’Brien added. “This is to maximise take back arrangements for members of the public by providing collection points in addition to those at retail outlets and local authority civic amenity facilities”. Green Party Cllr Steve Matthews is calling on businesses and the public service to take a lead in providing space for receptacles storing waste batteries, as the achievement by Ireland of mandatory collection targets will be dependant on the number and accessibility of collection points. Producers will be responsible for the financing of the collection, treatment, and recycling and environmentally sound disposal of waste batteries. Cllr Matthews said: “The targets to be met under the Directive are challenging: producers must collect 25% of what they place on the market by 2012 and 45% by 2016”. Green Party Cllr Caroline Burrell said: “Many people tend to hoard old batteries or throw them into the bin destined for landfill. Addressing these barriers will be important from the outset. High profile, sustained public awareness campaigns by the producer compliance schemes will be critical. I will be asking those seeking approval as compliance schemes to outline in detail their proposals in this area. Cllr Burrell is asking consumers to plan their battery usage requirements and use rechargeable batteries instead.
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