Public Consultation on the Review of the WEEE and Batteries Producer Responsibility Schemes

The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is conducting a review of extended producer responsibility for the WEEE and Batteries sectors. As part of this review, the Department is seeking views from consumers, producers, manufacturers and importers.

Ireland uses the extended producer responsibility (EPR) model for dealing with a number of waste streams and has developed producer responsibility initiatives (PRIs), based on the ‘producer pays’ principle. This is where producers have responsibility to finance the collection and environmentally sound waste management of their products at end of life.

Producer responsibility organisations may fulfil compliance obligations for members on a collective basis subject to receipt of Ministerial Approval.

WEEE and waste Batteries are the only waste stream in Ireland for which there is more than one EPR organisation available to offer collective compliance, and the review will examine the experience of having competition in the compliance sector. The two PROs for the WEEE and Batteries sectors are WEEE Ireland and ERP Ireland. The review is intended to ensure that the two PROs are contributing effectively to Ireland’s transition to a Circular Economy.

The purpose of this review is to assess the operating models of the two PROs to ensure that they are performing optimally with respect to:

1. Target achievement
2. Satisfying the conditions of their Ministerial Approvals
3. The quality of the compliance solution offering
4. The value competition and choice has brought to the sector and circularity
5. EPR necessary cost management and financial management.
6. Policy development support
7. The transition to a Circular Economy in Ireland
8. Efficiency and effectiveness analysis.

The Department is committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner.

Submissions may be made based on the survey questions set out below.

The survey can be completed online by following this link:

https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/PROConsultation2025

It is not necessary to answer all questions. Additional comments outside the questions posed are also welcome.

The closing date for submissions is 5.30pm on Monday, 24 November 2025

Submissions may be made by email to: PROConsultation@dcee.gov.ie

Alternatively, submissions may be made in writing to the following address:

Review of the WEEE/ Batteries Producer Responsibility Schemes Consultation,

PRI Unit,

Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment,

Newtown Road

Wexford

Y35AP90

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. We will consider all submissions and feedback before we publish the final version of the Feasibility Study.

Your response to this consultation is subject to:

• the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI)
• the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE)
• the Data Protection Act 2018

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We may publish the contents of any submissions received to our consultations on our website. We will redact (remove) personal data before publication.

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• personal information
• commercially sensitive information
• confidential information

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