Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
253. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which local authorities can apply for funding for the disposal of nitrous oxide cannisters; the level of funding available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45726/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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. They require a specialist hazardous waste disposal service for collection and appropriate treatment.
The Department has continued to engage 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.
While my Department provides significant annual funding to the local authority sector to support waste enforcement activities through the Waste Enforcement Measures Grant Scheme and the Anti-Dumping Initiative, there is no specific funding available through my Department to assist with costs associated with managing discarded nitrous oxide cannisters.
