The government has no current plans to introduce regulations requiring retailers to offer free takeback of old electrical items.
While UK retailers are legally required to offer free takeback of old electrical items when selling new ones, this obligation does not apply on the Isle of Man.
This gap in service has led to frustration among consumers, who feel penalised for responsible disposal.
For example, disposing of a standard fridge at the Eastern Civic Amenity Site costs around £53, while UK residents can often return such items to retailers for free.
Compliance
DEFA Minister Clare Barber confirmed the stance when responding to a question from Glenfaba & Peel MHK Kate Lord-Brennan, who asked what plans were in place “to ensure that the burden of WEEE compliance does not fall disproportionately on individuals”.
Mrs Barber said her department “has no current plans to bring in a scheme like the UK producer responsibility scheme for disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from private households”.
She added: “While we have no plans at present we are providing an enabling provision in the Environmental Protection Bill should a future government wish to introduce producer responsibility regulations.
“Currently the cost of disposal of electrical appliances in the Isle of Man is passed directly on to the consumer at civic amenity sites to cover the sustainable disposal of these items.
“The current UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 include powers to finance the costs of the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of WEEE from private households which is a UK based scheme not an Isle of Man one.”
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