Garage Waste

Are you compliant with the battery regulations?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is advising all garages that sell automotive batteries, that they are responsible for the proper disposal of the old battery.

Under the scope of the regulations, a tyre retailer that sells automotive batteries is classed as a “distributor” which means the retailer must comply with the battery regulations.

Batteries taken in by the tyre retailer should only be passed to a person authorised to collect and manage this type of waste.

Battery and Tyre retailers have been reminded that it is an offence under Section 32 of the Waste Management Act 1996 to transfer waste to any other person unless they are appropriately authorised. If you are in any doubt as to whether your battery collector is authorised or not, ask to see a copy of their waste collection permit, which should list batteries as one of the wastes they collect.

Further information may be found at www.batteries-enforcement.ie  E-mail batteries@epa.ie or Lo call 1890 33 55 99.

In a separate development the EPA is advising all workshops that the burning of waste oil is classified as a hazardous waste incineration activity and requires a licence from the EPA before it can be carried out.

It is an offence to burn waste oil without a licence from the EPA.

The EPA, says it is active in enforcing this requirement and conducts unannounced enforcement visits to garages, workshops and other generators of waste oils.

The unauthorised burning of waste oils in burners/ energy units has the potential to cause harm to the environment and human health, the EPA says.

WEEE, Batteries and metal theft prevention (An Garda Síochána in association with the Environment Protection Agency)

  • The value of scrap metal makes metal items, including waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste lead acid batteries, very attractive to thieves.
  • Theft of scrap metal and metal items such as WEEE and waste lead acid batteries is a crime and is no different to the theft of any other items.
  • In some cases, such theft may also be considered unauthorised waste activity.

 

  • If you think there might be unauthorised waste activity involved, call the National Environmental Complaints Line on 1850 365 121
  • Alternatively, download the “See It? Say It!” iPhone App from iTunes or scan the QR code (see below)
  • If you see something that might involve theft of scrap metal or WEEE, call the Garda Síochána on the Emergency Line 999 or 112, or contact your local Garda station with details.

For Crime Prevention Advice, check out www.garda.ie