Tread Carefully — A Reminder from The Environment Agency

Businesses are being reminded today that used tyres can no longer be sent to landfill from 16 July 2006 when new regulations come into force across England and Wales. Liz Parkes, Head of Waste Regulation at the Environment Agency said: “From 16 July, regulations will ban used whole and shredded tyres from being disposed of in all landfill sites.

“Over 48 million tyres were scrapped in 2004, with around a quarter of these going to landfill sites. The tyre industry has responded to the requirements of the ban and recovery capacity has been increasing steadily from 1995 to an estimated 95 per cent in 2005. This legislation will help us reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill, especially as there are better ways we can manage waste tyres.

“More tyres will now have to be recovered, recycled and reused – options include retreading, use as alternative fuel, reprocessing into ‘chip’ and ‘crumb’ for use in rubberised playing field surfaces and roadways and drainage schemes.”

The new rules are a result of an EU wide ban under the Landfill Directive. Legislation banning the landfilling of whole used tyres in certain sites came into force in 2003. Now all waste tyres fall under this legislation, with the exception of large tyres from agricultural or heavy plant vehicles (diameter greater than 1400mm) and bicycle tyres.

Tyres can still be used for landfill engineering purposes and new tyres (manufacturing rejects) can also be disposed of in landfills as the regulations apply only to used tyres. The Environment Agency will work closely with landfill operators and waste producers, and their trade associations, the ESA, BMRA and local authorities, to ensure a smooth transition.

“Our overall aim is to ensure the continued safe management of waste tyres after the ban on landfill disposal comes into effect. The Environment Agency will take a pragmatic and proportionate approach to enforce the regulations, and take action against those who deliberately abuse the rules and fly tip or allow tyres to be disposed of in landfills,” added Liz Parkes.