In the space of a fortnight three major tyre dumping incidents in the UK bring into question tyre collection processes across the UK. This comes as responsible collection agents are reporting challenges from operators collecting tyres at uneconomic rates.
Tyre Dumping Rife Across UK
With collection fees for viable operations being in the range of £1.50 to £2.00 per car tyre, many retailers are tempted by offers from cut price collectors asking only around 80p per tyre. Collecting tyres at that rate is not an issue, but disposing of them at a profit is. The result is the illegal dumping of tyres, as in Glasgow, or the exploitation of Exemptions, such as in Bradford.
In Scotland, authorities were faced with a tyre dump arising at what is described as a fly-tipping hotspot.
Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council met with SEPA for talks on how to remove the mess safely amid fears it could cause an environmental disaster if vandals set it alight.
A SEPA spokesman said: “SEPA works with partners to tackle waste crime and has recently been notified by Glasgow City Council of tyres and other materials being dumped on an area of land at Garscadden Road.
“A multi-agency group, including representatives from SEPA, Police Scotland, Glasgow City Council and others will met on Wednesday, July 22, to discuss this matter and specialist SEPA officers will also be deployed to the area.”
Police have urged witnesses who may have spotted trucks or individuals dumping rubbish on the site to get in touch as the force launched an investigation into the situation.
In England, in Bradford, a slightly different issue arose when a large quantity of tyres were reported to the Environment Agency.
The former go-karting site is being investigated concerning the large number of tyres being stored there.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “Our officers are investigating the operators of a site on Spring Mill Street, Bradford following reports to our Incident Hotline about the suspected illegal storage of waste tyres.
“There are strict rules governing the storage of waste tyres, which are designed to help prevent fires and to protect people and the environment. We have alerted our colleagues at West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service and are now seeking to determine if an offence has been committed so that appropriate enforcement action may be taken.”
It has been noted that Go Kart sites can store up to 40 tons under the Exemption scheme.
In Northern Ireland, the Irish media picked up on a considerable number of tyres dumped on farmland at Pomeroy. The NI Environment Agency is investigating after up to 100 tonnes of tyres were left on land near Pomeroy, County Tyrone
According to a report by the BBC, the landowner claimed that a relative had planned to build a go-kart track but more tyres arrived than expected. He said he was unable to contact the relative and was not sure where they had come from.
Stricter controls in the key export market of India are believed to have increased the numbers of used tyres in circulation and the cost of properly disposing of them.
