Unwanted fridges from Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic are to be transported to England for recycling, under a new initiative.
Stormont Environment Minister Angela Smith and junior Irish Environment minister, Pat the Cope Gallagher made the announcement on Tuesday.
The contract for both sides of the border was awarded to M Baker Recycling Ltd from St Helen’s in Merseyside.
The appliances will be collected and transported across by firms in County Down and County Offaly.
Ms Smith said sustainable waste management posed a major challenge for everybody.
“This is an excellent example of utilising innovative technology to remove the environmentally harmful substances and recycling the remainder of our waste fridges and freezers rather than consigning them to landfill sites,” she said.
Mr Gallagher said it was an example of how both governments could work together to deal with waste problems.
He said the joint scheme was a “tangible dividend for north-south co-operation”.
The recycling firm will also work with local councils on both sides of the border.
Waste directive
M Baker Recycling project manager Julie-Ann Adams said: “Our investment in the best available technology, people and training enables us to provide an efficient service to our customers.
“We are committed to providing district councils and local authorities across Ireland with a motivated, highly professional service, ensuring that this joint contract is the success it it should be.”
After the contract runs out in August 2005, liability for disposing electronic goods including waste fridges will fall to manufacturers, when a new European Directive comes into effect.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Weee) Directive makes electronics firms responsible for what happens to the gadgets and devices they produce once people have done with them.
It forces them to find greener ways of making electronic goods and obliges them to help recycle what they make once they are discarded.
From The BBC