Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
84. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the arrangements in place for the environmentally safe disposal of items excluded from the pharmacy-based unused medicines return scheme, including sharps, vapes and nitrous oxide canisters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53346/26]
View answerI am advised that the operation of the pharmacy-based unused medicines return scheme is a matter for the Department of Health. As such I cannot comment on what materials are accepted under that scheme.
In order to protect the environment and ensure the recycling of the valuable materials, it is important that electronic vaping devices are disposed of correctly. Proper takeback and disposal are also part of the transition to a circular economy.
Ireland uses Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) measures for dealing with waste streams such as batteries and waste electrical and electronic equipment. EPR requires producers to fund the collection and appropriate management of vaping devices when they become waste. The compliance schemes with responsibility for WEEE/Batteries, WEEE Ireland and ERP Ireland facilitate the collective take back of this e-waste for free, recycling via their battery collection network and dedicated battery boxes.
Under EU waste legislation, discarded pressurised containers of nitrous oxide should be classified and treated as hazardous waste and as such used nitrous oxide cannisters should not be placed in the residual waste bin or the recycling bin and require a specialist hazardous waste disposal service for collection and appropriate treatment.
My Department has engaged with the local authority sector and other relevant stakeholders, under the auspices of the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan, to prioritise the development of a system which will assist local authorities in managing discarded nitrous oxide cannisters as a matter of urgency.
Arising from this process of engagement, a Working Group has been established, chaired by the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices, to address the issue. Membership of the Working Group consists of representatives of the local authority sector, the Environmental Protection Agency and officials from the Department. It will prioritise the development of guidance and procedures to assist all local authorities in appropriately managing this material via the civic amenity site network. In addition, the Working Group is committed to developing appropriate awareness raising measures to ensure that the public are fully informed about how to properly dispose of this material.
